12AM ET 08/23/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 12AM ET 08/23/2025: Episode Summary

Main Theme & Purpose

This late-night Fox News Radio newscast covers the major stories of August 23, 2025, focusing on national crime initiatives led by President Trump, judicial decisions involving the Menendez brothers, a major bus accident in New York state, potential shifts in Federal Reserve monetary policy, developments in immigration law, coastal hazards from Hurricane Erin, and a significant investment by the U.S. government in Intel. The episode weaves breaking news updates and live responses from key figures, offering listeners a quick yet comprehensive briefing on recent events impacting the U.S.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lyle Menendez Parole Denial

• California's parole board has denied parole for Lyle Menendez, echoing the previous rejection for his brother Eric. Both have served over 35 years for the 1989 murder of their parents.
  • The board is required to provide detailed reasoning and set a future hearing date.
  • "The brother's family said in a statement that they are disappointed but not discouraged because this is not the end of the road." (Fox News Anchor Carmen Roberts, 00:15)

2. Trump Targets Chicago in Crime Crackdown

• President Donald Trump singled out Chicago as the potential next focus for his crime crackdown, following actions in Washington, D.C.

  • Criticizes the city’s mayor, calling him "grossly incompetent."
  • "Chicago's a mess. You have an incompetent mayor, grossly incompetent. And we'll straighten that one out probably next. That'll be our next one after this and it won't even be tough." (Donald Trump, 00:42)

• Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson shot back at the president’s comments, calling his approach "uncoordinated, uncalled for and unsound." (00:53)

3. Tour Bus Crash near Buffalo, NY

• A tour bus returning from Niagara Falls rolled over on Interstate 90, resulting in five fatalities and dozens injured.
  • The driver was reported “cooperative” and, so far, neither mechanical failure nor driver impairment has been found.
  • "No charges have been filed at this point." (State Police Commander Major Andre Rea, 01:16)

4. Federal Reserve Hints at Possible Rate Cuts

• Fed Chair Jerome Powell pointed to signs of a weaker labor market as justification for potential interest rate cuts, sparking a rally on Wall Street.
  • Powell warned of "downside risks to employment," including possible sharp layoffs and rising unemployment.
  • "If those risks materialize, they can do so quickly in the form of sharply higher layoffs and rising unemployment." (Jerome Powell, as read by Fox News, 01:37)
  • The news led to the Dow closing at its first record for the year. (01:49)

5. Ray Dalio Book Recommendation

• Tucker Carlson endorses Ray Dalio’s book "How Countries Go the Big Cycle," highlighting its analysis of debt cycles and global financial trends.
  • "Ray Dalio was one of the world's smartest investors. But more important, he's likely the wisest. Make yourself read this book." (Tucker Carlson, 01:59)

6. Kilmar Abrego Garcia Released

• Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an immigrant wrongfully deported to El Salvador, has been freed after 11 weeks in Tennessee custody.
  • His attorney issues a statement emphasizing the case as an example of governmental “vindictive attack” and celebrates access to due process.
  • "He is grateful that his access to American courts has provided meaningful due process." (Attorney for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 02:54)

7. Hurricane Erin and Coastal Hazards

• Hurricane Erin, moving away from the U.S., leaves behind dangerous flood conditions and rip currents along the East Coast.
  • Flooding reported in multiple states; some beaches closed due to safety concerns.
  • "Some east coast beaches have been closed amid warnings of dangerous rip currents, which have already been blamed for multiple deaths this year." (Tanya J. Powers, 03:37)

8. U.S. Purchase of Intel Stock

• Commerce Secretary Howard Lotnick announces the U.S. has acquired a 10% stake in Intel.
  • "And Commerce Secretary Howard Lotnick says the US now owns 10% of Intel stock." (Fox News Anchor, 04:16)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Chicago's a mess. You have an incompetent mayor, grossly incompetent. And we'll straighten that one out probably next.”
  — Donald Trump (00:42)

• “This unusual situation suggests that downside risks to employment are rising. And if those risks materialize, they can do so quickly in the form of sharply higher layoffs and rising unemployment.”
  — Jerome Powell, as presented on Fox News (01:37)

• “Today Kilmar Abrego Garcia is free. He is presently en route to his family in Maryland after being unlawfully arrested and deported and then imprisoned, all because of the government's vindictive attack on a man who had the courage to fight back against the administration's continuing assault on the rule of law.”
  — Attorney for Kilmar Abrego Garcia (02:54)

• “Some east coast beaches have been closed amid warnings of dangerous rip currents, which have already been blamed for multiple deaths this year.”
  — Tanya J. Powers (03:37)

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• [00:05] – Lyle Menendez parole denied; family response
• [00:42] – Donald Trump vows crime crackdown on Chicago; mayor responds
• [01:16] – Tour bus crash near Buffalo; police update
• [01:37] – Jerome Powell on labor market and rate cut
• [01:49] – Market reaction to Fed signals
• [01:59] – Tucker Carlson recommends Ray Dalio’s book
• [02:34] – Repeat of Menendez brothers story; Kilmar Abrego Garcia released
• [03:27] – Hurricane Erin’s coastal impact, with on-the-scene reporting
• [04:16] – U.S. government’s purchase of Intel stock

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Tone & Language

The episode maintains Fox News’ urgent and informative style, emphasizing breaking developments, official statements, and high-profile criminal justice and political news. The reporting balances concise updates with direct quotes from public figures, offering both the network’s viewpoint and a selection of contrasting responses.

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Transcript

[Donald Trump]

Chicago's a mess. You have an incompetent.

[Fox News Anchor]

This is a FOX News alert. Lyle is denied. I'm Carmen Roberts. Like his brother Eric, Lyle Menendez will stay behind bars. A California parole board just voted not to release him from prison, where he and his younger brother Eric have served more than 35 years for the 1989 murder of their parents. The panel must provide a reason for the denial and set a new hearing date. The brother's family said in a statement that they are disappointed but not discouraged because this is not the end of the road. President Trump says Chicago will likely be the next city on his crackdown on crime treatment, like he's done in Washington.

[Donald Trump]

D.C. chicago's a mess. You have an incompetent mayor, grossly incompetent. And we'll straighten that one out probably next. That'll be our next one after this and it won't even be tough.

[Fox News Anchor]

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson responding, calling the president's approach uncoordinated, uncalled for and unsound at the same time. The Pentagon ordered troops in D.C. to start carrying a tour bus on its way back from Niagara Falls crashes killing five passengers, injuring dozens more. The bus was headed for New York City when it rolled over on i90 near Buffalo.

[State Police Commander Major Andre Rea]

The operator has been cooperative and with the investigation still underway, no charges have been filed at this point.

[Fox News Anchor]

State Police Commander Major Andre Rea says investigators have ruled out mechanical failure and driver impairment. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated during a speech Friday a weaker labor market may warrant cutting interest rates.

[State Police Commander Major Andre Rea]

This unusual situation suggests that downside risks to employment are rising. And if those risks materialize, they can do so quickly in the form of sharply higher layoffs and rising unemployment.

[Fox News Anchor]

And as Powell opened the door to a rate cut, stocks surged, snapping a five day losing streak. The Dow closed at its first record this year. America's listening.

[Tucker Carlson]

Tucker Carlson said Ray Dalio was one of the world's smartest investors. But more important, he's likely the wisest. Make yourself read this book. That book is How Countries Go the Big Cycle. In it, Dalio explains the mechanics behind big debt cycles and what they mean for countries with big and increasing debts like the US and what you should do to protect yourself. You can find it wherever books are sold or read a five minute summary of the book at economicprinciples.org.

[Fox News Anchor]

Repeating our top story. A California parole board denies parole to Lyle Menendez one after his brother Eric was also refused freedom. The brothers are in prison for the 1989 murder of their parents. But another man is out of jail. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the illegal immigrant wrongfully deported to El Salvador, is freed from jail in Tennessee.

[Attorney for Kilmar Abrego Garcia]

He's been in jail in Tennessee for about 11 weeks since his return to the US from El Salvador. His attorney says, quote, today Kilmar Abrego Garcia is free. He is presently en route to his family in Maryland after being unlawfully arrested and deported and then imprisoned, all because of the government's vindictive attack on a man who had the courage to fight back against the administration's continuing assault on the rule of law. He is grateful that his access to American courts has provided meaningful due process.

[Fox News Anchor]

Fox's Madison Scarpino Hurricane Erin is spinning away from the US but it is leaving behind dangerous east coast weekend swimming conditions.

[Tanya J. Powers]

The National Weather Service has issued flood warnings as far north as the Mid Atlantic and New England coasts as Hurricane Erin makes its way farther out to sea. The storm's core missed the US but it left behind a lot of water, with coastal flooding reported in Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and North Carolina, where a nearly 50 mile stretch of roadway was shut down because of hazards. Some east coast beaches have been closed amid warnings of dangerous rip currents, which have already been blamed for multiple deaths this year. The rough seas are expected to continue through one of the final weekends of the summer with many coastal communities busy with visitors. In New York, Tanya J. Powers, FOX News.

[Fox News Anchor]

And Commerce Secretary Howard lotnick says the US now owns 10% of intel stock. This is FOX News.

[Tucker Carlson]

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