Fox News Hourly Update — 12AM ET 08/22/2025 Newscast

Date: August 22, 2025
Host: FOX News Podcasts

Episode Overview

This episode delivers the latest breaking national and international news updates. Major coverage includes a federal judge’s ruling against a controversial migrant detention facility in Florida, parole denied to Eric Menendez, a pivotal Trump civil fraud case decision, a campus shooter hoax at Villanova University, a major earthquake off South America, and a high-stakes congressional redistricting battle in California.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Court Shuts Down "Alligator Alcatraz" Migrant Facility

• [00:02] U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams issues a temporary injunction halting the transfer of new detainees to the Alligator Alcatraz detention center in Florida, citing unassessed environmental damage and requiring most of the facility be dismantled within 60 days.
• Sharp criticism directed at both state and federal officials for bypassing required environmental assessments.
• [00:34] Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responds that the state will "immediately appeal and get that decision stayed."
  • Quote: "We totally expected an adverse ruling and we also knew we were going to immediately appeal and get that decision stayed. So we'll ultimately be successful in this. It's not going to stop our resolve." — Gov. Ron DeSantis [00:34]

Notable follow-up:

• [02:33] Reiteration: The ban applies to both Florida and the Trump administration, emphasizing the urgency for Florida to wind down the facility.

2. Denial of Parole for Eric Menendez

• [00:45] Eric Menendez, imprisoned with his brother Lyle for the 1989 murders of their parents, is denied parole after more than 30 years.
  • Eric’s claims of long-term sexual abuse by their father are briefly mentioned.
  • Los Angeles DA Nathan Hockman argued the brothers have not fully accepted responsibility.
  • Lyle Menendez is scheduled for his plea for freedom on Friday.
• Impact: The case, long in the public spotlight, continues to evoke debate over justice and rehabilitation for high-profile inmates.

3. Trump Civil Fraud Case—Penalty Overturned, Conviction Upheld

• [01:29] New York appeals court throws out a $500 million+ penalty against former President Trump in his civil fraud conviction, citing Eighth Amendment violations.
  • Quote: "Two justices calling the more than $515 million penalty in that violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution..." — (Reporter) [01:29]
• [01:39] Trump's reaction: Calls the penalty overturn a "total victory".
• Conviction for fraud remains; New York AG Letitia James plans to appeal.

4. Villanova and Chattanooga Campus Active Shooter Hoaxes

• [02:33] Reports of an active shooter at Villanova University are deemed a "cruel hoax."
  • Authorities praise police response—no injuries, students briefly sheltered in place.
  • Quote: "These are some of the best police officers you'll ever meet. And what they did here today was truly heroic and I am thankful... that none of them got hurt." — Delaware County DA Jack Strollsteimer [02:58]
• A similar false alarm occurred at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

5. Major Earthquake in the Drake Passage

• [03:06] An earthquake initially measured at magnitude 8, downgraded to 7.5, strikes the Drake Passage south of South America.
  • USGS confirms no landmass threatened—only ocean vessels in the zone.
  • No tsunami threat reported.

6. California’s Redistricting Showdown

• [03:47] California Assembly passes a controversial congressional redistricting plan aiming to counteract a similar power grab by Texas lawmakers.
  • Republicans claim the Democratic-controlled plan violates state constitution—mid-decade redistricting and clear partisanship.
  • Opaque process: GOP alleges Democrats have not disclosed who drew the map.
  • California’s usual practice delegates this to a nonpartisan commission, but Democrats are pushing a constitutional amendment to override it.
  • Quote: "State Republicans argue the new map violates the state's constitution in part because redistricting is not supposed to be done mid decade and should not favor a particular party. And Republicans say Democratic legislators have not revealed exactly who drew the new lines." — (Reporter) [03:47]
  • Residents will vote in a November special election.

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• [00:34] Gov. Ron DeSantis: "We totally expected an adverse ruling and we also knew we were going to immediately appeal and get that decision stayed. So we'll ultimately be successful in this. It's not going to stop our resolve."
• [01:29] On Trump case penalty: "Two justices calling the more than $515 million penalty in that violates the Eighth Amendment..."
• [02:58] DA Jack Strollsteimer: "These are some of the best police officers you'll ever meet. And what they did here today was truly heroic and I am thankful... that none of them got hurt."
• [03:47] On redistricting: "State Republicans argue the new map violates the state's constitution in part because redistricting is not supposed to be done mid decade and should not favor a particular party..."

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:02 Federal Judge halts migrant transfers to Alligator Alcatraz
• 00:34 DeSantis vows to appeal ruling
• 00:45 Eric Menendez denied parole; Lyle Menendez parole plea upcoming
• 01:29 Appeals court overturns Trump financial penalty, upholds conviction
• 01:39 Trump reacts; New York AG plans further appeal
• 02:33 Recap of Alligator Alcatraz ruling; Villanova active shooter hoax response
• 03:06 Major earthquake in Drake Passage, no tsunami
• 03:47 California’s redistricting conflict heads to voter referendum

Summary

This edition of the Fox News Hourly Update captures several breaking legal and political stories, from courtroom dramas to the frontlines of immigration and congressional redistricting. The tone is brisk and urgent, focusing on immediate quotes from officials and concise, impactful recaps of ongoing national stories.