11AM ET 02/25/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 11AM ET 02/25/2026 Newscast

Host: Dave Anthony (FOX News Podcasts)
Date: February 25, 2026

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Episode Overview

This edition of the Fox News Hourly Update delivers concise coverage of major political, international, and legal developments as of late February 2026. Highlights include Vice President J.D. Vance’s new role as head of anti-fraud initiatives, fallout from President Trump’s State of the Union address, rising geopolitical tensions involving Iran and East Asia, new revelations in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, and a significant lawsuit against social media platforms. The episode maintains a brisk, focused tone typical of FOX News’ hourly newscasts.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. J.D. Vance Leads White House War on Fraud

[00:03–01:14]

• Appointment:
  President Trump has appointed Vice President J.D. Vance to lead a major initiative against fraud.

• Political Statement:
  In an interview with Bill Hemmer, Vance strongly criticizes both “people who shouldn’t be here” and politicians for economic fraud under the Biden administration.

  “The story of the American economy in so many ways during the Biden administration… is that the American citizen was ripped off by people who shouldn't be here and by politicians who should have known better.”
  — Bill Hemmer [00:08]

• Justice Department’s Role:
  DOJ will investigate fraud cases and consider criminal charges.

  “The Department of Justice is going to be investigating and where possible, throwing fraudsters in prison.”
  — Bill Hemmer [00:24]

• State of the Union Reaction & Partisan Division:
  Vance calls Democrats “cowards” for refusing to applaud his address prioritizing American citizens’ safety over “illegal aliens.”

  • Republicans applauded; most Democrats stayed seated or did not attend (~70+ absent).

  • Vance publicly shames those who didn’t stand.

    “Isn't that ashamed? You should be ashamed of yourself not standing up.”
    — J.D. Vance [00:54]

  • Congressional reaction: Democrats heckled Vance, with Rep. Ilhan Omar shouting “he should be ashamed” and another Democrat calling him “a liar.”

  • Sen. John Fetterman explains his decision to attend, encouraging participation in civic events regardless of agreement.

    “I think show up. You don't have to clap for everything… I think we're in a different place right now.”
    — John Fetterman [01:14]

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2. U.S.-Iran Sanctions & Military Escalation

[01:21–01:57]

• New Sanctions:
  The U.S. targets Iran’s oil revenues and missile programs following President Trump’s pledge to prevent Iranian nuclear weapons.

• Regional Buildup:
  U.S. F-22s have arrived in Israel; wider military buildup is underway.

  “A dozen US F22 fighter jets landed here in Israel as part of the ongoing military buildup across the region.”
  — Trey Yingst (Tel Aviv) [01:34]

• Iran’s Reaction:
  Iran rejects U.S. assertions as “big lies” and reiterates its stance:

  “Iran will under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon.”
  — Trey Yingst quoting Iran's Foreign Minister [01:48]

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3. Rising Tensions in East Asia

[02:40–03:21]

• US-South Korea Military Drills:
  Upcoming exercises likely to provoke North Korea, which views such drills as rehearsals for invasion.
• Japan-China Friction:

  • Japan plans new missile installations on Yonaguni Island by 2031 (less than 70 miles from Taiwan), escalating distrust.

  • Japan asserts readiness to mobilize its self-defense force if China attacks Taiwan.

    “Relations between the two countries are at their lowest level in years.”
    — Jonathan Savage [02:59]

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4. Jeffrey Epstein Investigation Widens

[03:21–04:06]

• Bill Gates Apology:
  During a Gates Foundation town hall, Bill Gates expresses regret for his association with Epstein, including bringing associates into meetings.

  “A huge mistake to spend time with Jeffrey Epstein and bring foundation executives into meetings with him and apologizes for drawing other people into the whole thing.”
  — Chris Foster [03:30]

  • Gates claims he never witnessed illegal acts or visited Epstein's island.
  • Acknowledges marital infidelity involving others (unrelated to Epstein's victims) cited in DOJ files.
  • Gates’ contacts with Epstein continued even after concerns were raised by his then-wife.

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5. Social Media Addiction Lawsuit

[04:06–04:32]

• Congressional Testimony:
  Kaylee (last name not specified), the plaintiff in a suit against Meta and YouTube, will testify about how social media design led to her childhood mental health issues.

  “Kaylee has said that in her childhood using social media had led to mental health issues. And today we will talk about how the engineering and the algorithms led to this case here.”
  — Kelly Sabera [04:11]

  • Live updates from outside the LA courthouse, with the promise of showing her actual social media posts.

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6. Financial Markets Update

[04:32–04:37]

• The Dow is up 154 points at the time of broadcast.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• J.D. Vance on Democrats not standing:

  “Isn't that ashamed? You should be ashamed of yourself not standing up.”
  — J.D. Vance [00:54]

• John Fetterman on attending the State of the Union:

  “I think show up. You don't have to clap for everything. You don't have to agree with anything.”
  — John Fetterman [01:14]

• Trey Yingst on US-Iran escalation:

  “A dozen US F22 fighter jets landed here in Israel as part of the ongoing military buildup across the region.”
  — Trey Yingst [01:34]

• Bill Gates expressing regret over the Epstein relationship:

  “A huge mistake to spend time with Jeffrey Epstein and bring foundation executives into meetings with him and apologizes for drawing other people into the whole thing.”
  — Chris Foster (on Gates) [03:30]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:03–01:14: J.D. Vance announcement and State of the Union fallout
• 01:21–01:57: Iran sanctions and Middle East military buildup
• 02:40–03:21: Rising US-Asia military tensions; Japan-China-Taiwan developments
• 03:21–04:06: Jeffrey Epstein investigation; Bill Gates apologizes
• 04:06–04:32: Social media lawsuit testimony
• 04:32–04:37: Financial market update

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Overall Tone and Takeaways

The episode reflects Fox News’ signature assertive and confrontational tone, especially regarding party divides and US foreign policy stances. Listeners gain a rapid but thorough sense of the morning’s key issues in Washington, worldwide military dynamics, evolving technology accountability debates, and the enduring complexities of public scandals.

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Transcript

[Dave Anthony]

He's going to lead a war on fraud. I'm Dave Anthony, FOX News.

[Bill Hammer]

The story of the American economy in so many ways during the Biden administration, Bill, is that the American citizen was ripped off for people who shouldn't be here and by politicians who should have known better.

[Dave Anthony]

That's Vice President J.D. vance talking to Fox's Bill Hammer the morning after President Trump put him in charge.

[Bill Hammer]

The Department of Justice is going to be investigating and where possible, throwing fraudsters in prison.

[Dave Anthony]

Now, the vice president also called Democrats who refused to cheer the State of the Union address cowards, especially after this exchange last night.

[J.D. Vance]

If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support. The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.

[Dave Anthony]

It's Republicans who were applauding. Democrats stayed seated.

[J.D. Vance]

Isn't that ashamed? You should be ashamed of yourself not standing up. You should be ashamed of yourself.

[Dave Anthony]

Now you can hear Democrats shouting back. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar revealed he should be ashamed. Another Democrat shouted, he's a liar. But more than 70 Democrats didn't even attend the speech. Senator John Fetterman did and did clap at times and tells fox, I think show up.

[John Fetterman]

You don't have to clap for everything. You don't have to agree with anything. I think we're in a different place right now.

[Dave Anthony]

The US has just put new sanctions on Iran, targeting its oil sales and missile production. The morning after the president said he won't allow Iran to build a nuclear weapon. And ahead of a new round of US indirect talks tomorrow, at least a

[Trey Yingst]

dozen US F22 fighter jets landed here in Israel as part of the ongoing military buildup across the region.

[Dave Anthony]

That's Fox's Trey Yingst in Tel Aviv. He also reports Iran called what the president said in his address big lies.

[Trey Yingst]

Iran's foreign minister put out a statement overnight saying in part, our fundamental convictions are crystal clear. Iran will under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon.

[Dave Anthony]

America's listening to Fox News.

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[Dave Anthony]

There is more tension in Asia. The US and South Korea planning military drills next month that will likely anger North Korea. In the past, it is said those military exercises are invasion rehearsals as North Korea has nuclear armed missiles. Japan's also upsetting China with something else.

[Jonathan Savage]

The Japanese government says it plans to install surface to air missiles on the island of Yonaguni by 2031. Yonaguni is less than 70 miles from Taiwan and the decision comes after Japan angered China by saying it would activate its self Defense Force if Beijing tries to invade Taiwan. Relations between the two countries are at their lowest level in years.

[Dave Anthony]

That's Fox's Jonathan Savage as the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation continues in Congress. Another apology from someone famous associated with him.

[Bill Gates]

A scheduled town hall meeting with Gates foundation employees. Bill Gates says it was a huge mistake to spend time with Jeffrey Epstein and bring foundation executives into meetings with him and apologizes for drawing other people into the whole thing. He says he never saw anything illicit or visited Epstein's private island. He does admit having affairs that had nothing to do with Epstein victims with two Russian women. There were email references in the Epstein files released by the Justice Department to a Gates marital dispute and illicit trysts. Gates says he met with Epstein starting in 2011, three years after he pled guilty to soliciting prostitution with a minority, and that he continued meeting with him even after his then wife Melinda expressed concerns in 2013. Chris Foster, Fox News the plaintiff in

[Dave Anthony]

the lawsuit sued social media platforms Meta and YouTube, claiming they're meant to be addictive, will testify today.

[Kelly Sabera]

Kaylee has said that in her childhood using social media had led to mental health issues. And today we will talk about how the engineering and the algorithms led to this case here. Now this is important because not only are we going to hear from her for the first time, we're also going to see see her posts which that's Fox Business Network.

[Dave Anthony]

Kelly Sabera outside the court in LA on Wall street, the Dow up 154 points. I'm Dave Anthony.

[Kelly Sabera]

This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of

[Ainsley Earhart]

Jesus, a listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.