12AM ET 08/21/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update — 12AM ET, August 21, 2025

Host: FOX News Podcasts (Carmen Roberts)
Date: August 21, 2025

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Episode Overview

This hourly newscast from Fox News delivers a concise roundup of major political and world events, focusing on U.S. legislative maneuvering, hurricane activity on the East Coast, updates on the Jeffrey Epstein case, Middle East developments, D.C. crime statistics, allegations against a Federal Reserve Governor, and significant legal rulings in the healthcare sector.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Texas Approves Pro-Trump Congressional Map

[00:03–00:34]

• Main Point: The Texas House passes a congressional map strongly supported by former President Trump, designed to flip five Democratic-held seats to Republicans in the next midterm elections.
• Democratic Response: Democrats label the new map as “gerrymandered” and strongly oppose it.
• Legal Pushback:
  • Advocacy groups are preparing lawsuits, with the League of United Latin American Citizens calling for expedited federal court hearings and expressing willingness to escalate to the Supreme Court.
    • Quote: "They're willing to take their case all the way to the Supreme Court." (B, 00:16)

2. Hurricane Erin Impacts East Coast

[00:34–01:11]

• Current Situation: The massive Hurricane Erin, with winds at 110 mph (just under Category 3), is skirting the East Coast while still far out in the Atlantic, already bringing tropical storm conditions to North Carolina.
• Weather Effects:
  • Flooding risks are significant, with forecasts of two to four feet of flooding in some areas.
  • Rip current risks remain high for New England and the mid-Atlantic areas as the week progresses.
    • Quote: "Flooding, not just the waves, but actual flooding moving into some of these areas… getting up along New England and in parts of the mid Atlantic, you’re looking at a high rip current risk." (C, 00:53)
• Attribution: Report from Fox meteorologist Adam Klotz.

3. Epstein Grand Jury Records Stay Sealed

[01:11–01:38]

• Judicial Action:
  • A federal judge has rejected the DOJ’s request to unseal grand jury records related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
• White House Involvement: President Trump calls criticism of the DOJ a “witch hunt” and directs the attorney general to release credible information.
• Legal Perspective:
  • The judge called the push to unseal records a “diversion from the mountain of files on Epstein” the government has already compiled.
    • Quote: “The judge called the request for the record the diversion from the mountain of files on Epstein the government has already compiled.” (A, 01:38)
• Background: This is the third and final judge to deny the unsealing in separate court cases.

4. Israel Approves Divisive Settlement Project

[02:31–03:06]

• International News:
  • Israel gives final approval to a contentious West Bank settlement project that could split the territory and undermine hopes for a future Palestinian state.
• UN Response:
  • Secretary General Antonio Guterres calls for an immediate Gaza ceasefire as Israel takes steps to take over Gaza City.
• Palestinian Viewpoint: Both Palestinians and rights groups warn the settlement could “destroy hopes for a future Palestinian state.”

5. D.C. Policing and Crime Rates

[03:06–03:13]

• Federal Oversight: President Trump’s administration claims notable success in reducing D.C. crime rates following a federal takeover of the city’s police.
• Statistics Shared:
  • Vice President J.D. Vance reports:
    • "Dropped in D.C. 35% in nine days. Robberies in D.C. have dropped 55% in nine days." (F, 03:06)
• Political Reaction:
  • Democrats are critical of federal intervention, but the D.C. mayor admits it is within presidential authority.

6. Allegations Against Fed Governor Lisa Cook

[03:25–04:09]

• Overview:
  • President Trump pressures Fed Governor Lisa Cook to resign over alleged mortgage fraud.
• Details of the Allegation:
  • Bill Pulte (Federal Housing Finance Agency Director) claims Cook falsely claimed two properties—one in Michigan and one in Atlanta—as primary residences in 2021 to get better mortgage terms, while renting out the Atlanta property.
    • Quote: "He alleges falsely claimed two properties as primary residences to get favorable mortgage terms... Pulte adds Cook rented out the Atlanta residence. He says no one is above the law." (G, 03:25)
• Cook’s Response:
  • Cook denies wrongdoing, refuses to resign, and expresses intent to address any legitimate inquiries:
    • Quote: “I have no intention of being bullied to step down from my position because of some raised in a tweet. I do intend to take any questions about my financial history seriously as a member of the Federal Reserve.” (G, 03:44)

7. CVS’s Caremark Ordered to Pay Nearly $290 Million

[04:09–04:29]

• Legal Ruling:
  • A federal judge orders CVS Health’s pharmacy benefits manager, Caremark, to pay nearly $290 million based on a whistleblower case alleging overcharging Medicare on prescription drugs over a decade ago.
• Wider Implication: This ruling highlights ongoing scrutiny of big healthcare providers regarding public programs.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Legal Challenges to Texas Redistricting:
  “They're willing to take their case all the way to the Supreme Court.” (B, 00:16)
• On Hurricane Erin’s Threat:
  “Flooding, not just the waves, but actual flooding moving into some of these areas…” (C, 00:53)
• On Epstein Case Secrecy:
  “The judge called the request for the record the diversion from the mountain of files on Epstein the government has already compiled.” (A, 01:38)
• On D.C. Crime Decline:
  "Dropped in D.C. 35% in nine days. Robberies in D.C. have dropped 55% in nine days." (F, 03:06)
• On Lisa Cook Allegations:
  “He says no one is above the law, though Cook responded in a statement late today saying that, quote, I have no intention of being bullied to step down from my position... I do intend to take any questions about my financial history seriously as a member of the Federal Reserve.” (G, 03:44)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Texas Redistricting & Lawsuits: 00:03–00:34
• Hurricane Erin Coverage: 00:34–01:11
• Epstein Grand Jury Decision: 01:11–01:38
• Israel Settlement Approval: 02:31–03:06
• D.C. Crime Stats & Policing Takeover: 03:06–03:13
• Lisa Cook Mortgage Allegation: 03:25–04:09
• CVS Caremark Legal Ruling: 04:09–04:29

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Tone & Language

The segment maintains Fox News' brisk, headline-driven style—direct, with sharp attribution to sources and a focus on political divides, high-stakes litigation, and pressing global events.

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Conclusion

This episode delivers a rapid-fire roundup of U.S. political maneuvering (notably in Texas and D.C.), emerging hurricane threats, legal developments in several national controversies, international flashpoints, and a major healthcare lawsuit—providing listeners with a succinct table-setter on the hour’s pressing news.

Transcript

[A]

Texas hands Trump a win. I'm Carmen Roberts, FOX News. Republicans in the Texas House approve a Trump backed congressional map designed to flip five Democratic held seats in the US House during next year's midterm elections.

[B]

Advocacy groups are already preparing for their own legal fights over the new map. One group, the League of United Latin American Citizens, is asking a federal court to go ahead and set aside dates in September for an expedited hearing, telling the court they're willing to take their case all the way to the Supreme Court.

[A]

Fox's Garrett Democrats fiercely oppose the gerrymandered map which now heads to the state Senate where it is expected to pass. The outer bounds of Hurricane Aaron are brushing along the east coast as it tears north far out in the Atlantic. But the storm is so large, tropical storm conditions are reaching portions of the North Carolina coast.

[C]

Flooding, not just the waves, but actual flooding moving into some of these areas put probably anywhere from two to up to four feet. And then as we get later in the week, we watch the storm continue to track north. It still will impact some area beaches as you head into the weekend. So getting up along New England and in parts of the mid Atlantic, you're looking at a high rip current risk.

[A]

Fox meteorologist Adam Klotz. Erin's winds are at 110 miles an hour, just shy of a Category 3 storm. A federal judge rejects a DOJ request to unseal grand jury records related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

[D]

The case has sparked questions, questions about the Justice Department's handling of the investigation. President Trump has called those criticisms a witch hunt and directed the attorney general release credible information about the case. At the White House, Jared Halpern, FOX News.

[A]

The judge called the request for the record the diversion from the mountain of files on Epstein the government has already compiled. This is the third and final judge to request the Trump administration's request to unseal Epstein grand jury materials in three separate court cases. America's listening to FOX News.

[E]

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[A]

Israel gives final approval for a controversial settlement project in the occupied west bank that would effectively cut the territory in two and that Palestinians and rights groups say may destroy hopes for a future Palestinian state. This as UN Secretary General Antonio Gutesh calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza after Israel announced first steps of an operation to take over Gaza City. The Trump administration claims in just one week it's making serious progress in reducing crime in D.C. vice President J.D. vance tells Fox News violent crime has.

[F]

Dropped in D.C. 35% in nine days. Robberies in D.C. have dropped 55% in nine days.

[A]

Democrats oppose the president's takeover of D.C. policing, but the mayor admits he is acting within his power. President Trump is pressuring Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook to to resign, alleging mortgage fraud.

[G]

Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte submitting a criminal referral for Cook, who he alleges falsely claimed two properties as primary residences to get favorable mortgage terms, one in Michigan and one in Atlanta bought within two weeks of each other in 2021. Pulte adds Cook rented out the Atlanta residence. He says no one is above the law, though Cook responded in a statement late today saying that, quote, I have no intention of being bullied to step down from my position because of some raised in a tweet. I do intend to take any questions about my financial history seriously as a member of the Federal Reserve. And also I am gathering accurate information to answer any legitimate questions and provide the facts.

[A]

Fox's Edward Lawrence, a federal judge, orders CVS Health's pharmacy benefit manager Caremark, to pay nearly $290 million after a whistleblower accused the business of overcharging Medicare on procurement on prescription drugs more than a decade ago. This is FOX News.

[F]

This is Jimmy Falla inviting you to join me for FOX Across America, where we'll discuss every single one of the Democrats dumb ideas. Just kidding. It's only a three hour show. Listen live at noon Eastern or get the [e-mail].