12AM ET 09/13/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: 12AM ET 09/13/2025

Overview

This newscast, anchored by Ted Lindner, delivers the hour’s breaking stories focusing on the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a high-profile trial related to an assassination attempt on former President Trump, a major earthquake in Russia, law enforcement incidents in Illinois, and updates on federal crime crackdowns in Memphis. The episode balances national and international events, capturing political, social, and public safety concerns in its signature brisk reporting style.

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Key Stories and Insights

1. Remembrance of Charlie Kirk [00:03–00:42, 03:10]

• Main Points:

  • Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, head of Turning Point USA, was assassinated on a Utah college campus earlier in the week at age 31.
  • His widow, Erica Kirk, delivered emotional thanks to Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife, Usha, for their personal involvement in returning Kirk’s remains to Arizona.
  • The suspect, Tyler Robinson, 22, is in custody related to the shooting.
  • European Parliament conservative members sought a moment of silence in Kirk’s honor. The request ran into procedural issues, with President Roberta Metsola stating official tributes require certain procedures that weren’t fulfilled.

• Notable Quotes:

  • "I want to thank my husband's dear friend Vice President Vance and his phenomenal wife Usha for their love and support. You guys honored my husband so well bringing him home."
    —Erica Kirk [00:25]
  • "Members of the European Parliament request to honor Charlie Kirk with a moment of silence following his assassination."
    —Ted Lindner [03:10]

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2. Trial for Attempted Assassination of President Trump [00:42–01:45]

• Main Points:

  • The trial of Ryan Ruth, accused of an assassination attempt on former President Trump at his golf course in Florida (September 2024), is underway.
  • Ruth is representing himself with uneven results—his courtroom performance is erratic, with Judge Eileen Cannon repeatedly intervening.
  • The prosecution’s witnesses have been cross-examined only briefly or not at all, and the court adjourned early due to a lack of prosecution witnesses.
  • Ruth’s daughter, Sarah, believes he is performing well despite being ill and complaining about lack of sleep while in protective custody.
  • Prosecution expected to rest its case by Thursday.

• Notable Quotes:

  • "Whenever he goes off on tangents unrelated to the case, Judge Eileen Cannon intervenes, as she did during Ruth's rambling opening statement on Thursday."
    —Jonathan Serry [01:02]
  • "I think he's doing pretty good considering he's sick."
    —Sarah Ruth via Jonathan Serry [01:38]

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3. Earthquake in Russia [01:45–01:59]

• Main Points:
  • A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck near the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia.
  • A tsunami warning has been issued for the affected region.

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4. Deadly ICE Encounter in Illinois [03:10–04:18]

• Main Points:

  • In Franklin Park, Illinois, a man identified as Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, an undocumented immigrant with a reckless driving history, was killed after dragging an ICE officer with his car during a traffic stop.
  • The incident comes amid the Trump administration’s "Midway Blitz" campaign targeting sanctuary cities.
  • Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is demanding full transparency in the case.

• Notable Quotes:

  • "An ICE officer was hit and dragged by a car following a traffic stop in Franklin Park Friday morning. Homeland Security says the officer feared for his life, so he opened fire, killing Silverio Villegas Gonzalez."
    —Tom Graham [03:45]

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5. Federal Crime Crackdown in Memphis [04:18–05:01]

• Main Points:

  • President Trump announced a massive federal law enforcement operation aimed at reducing violent crime in Memphis, describing it as a “deeply troubled city.”
  • Memphis Mayor Paul Young, while supportive of federal enforcement, clarifies he did not request National Guard deployment and prefers alternative strategies.
  • Mayor Young commits to influencing federal engagement and focusing resources to reduce violent crime.

• Notable Quotes:

  • "I want to be clear. I did not ask for the National Guard, and I don't think it's the way to drive down crime."
    —Paul Young [04:44]

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Erica Kirk’s Gratitude for VP Vance’s Support [00:25]
• Sarah Ruth’s Defense of Her Father [01:38]
• Tom Graham Reporting on ICE Encounter [03:45]
• Mayor Paul Young’s Opposition to National Guard in Memphis [04:44]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Charlie Kirk Remembrance & Reaction – 00:03–00:42, 03:10
• Suspect in Kirk Case & Turning Point USA Info – 00:42
• Trump Assassination Attempt Trial – 00:42–01:45
• Earthquake in Kamchatka, Russia – 01:45–01:59
• European Parliament Moment of Silence Request – 03:10
• ICE Encounter and Midway Blitz in Illinois – 03:45–04:18
• Memphis Crime Crackdown Debate – 04:18–05:01

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Summary in Fox News’s Tone

The episode delivers fast, direct updates on major news events—combining breaking political headlines, courtroom drama, international emergencies, and contentious law enforcement stories. The reporting spotlights figures on all sides of the political spectrum and highlights the ongoing polarization in American public life, while not shying from the emotional gravity and controversy surrounding each lead story.

Transcript

[Ted Lindner]

Remembering Charlie Kirk. I'm Ted Lindner. FOX News Political leaders from both parties warning the loss of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on a Utah college campus at the age of 31 earlier this week. Speaking from the headquarters of Kirk's organization, Turning Point USA, his widow, Erica Kirk thanking Vice President J.D. vance for flying her husband's casket home to Arizona on Air Force Two.

[Erica Kirk]

I want to thank my husband's dear friend Vice President Vance and his phenomenal wife Usha for their love and support. You guys honored my husband so well bringing him home.

[Ted Lindner]

Turning Point usa, a group dedicated to promoting conservative politics among high school and college students. A suspect, 22 year old Tyler Robinson, now in custody in connection to the shooting the trial of the man accused of trying to assassinate President Trump at his golf course in Florida last September, almost a year ago. Fox's Jonathan Serry has details on the.

[Jonathan Serry]

Trial that's underway against the recommendation of the court. Ryan Ruth is representing himself with mixed results. Whenever he goes off on tangents unrelated to the case. Judge Eileen Cannon intervenes, as she did during Ruth's rambling opening statement on Thursday. But the defendant's cross examinations of prosecution witnesses have been so brief and sometimes non existent. Court adjourned a couple hours early because the prosecution has simply run out of witnesses is available today. Ruth's daughter Sarah, who attended the trial all week, told a reporter, I think he's doing pretty good considering he's sick. The defendant has been coughing and wiping his nose earlier, complaining about not getting enough sleep while he's being held in protective custody.

[Ted Lindner]

The trial resumes next week. The prosecution expected to arrest its case by Thursday. And an earthquake with a magnitude of at least 7.0 striking near the east coast of Kamshatka, Russia. A tsunami threat's been issued for the region. America's listening to FOX News.

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[Ted Lindner]

Members of the European Parliament requests honor Charlie Kirk with a moment of silence following his assassination. Swedish European Parliament member Charlie Weimer is making the request, which was backed by fellow conservative members from Germany and France. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said tributes required certain procedural rules that had not been met. Conservative activist Kirk fatally shot while appearing at a college event in Utah earlier this week. On Wednesday, a suspect dead after being shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in suburban Chicago. More details on this from fox's Tom Graham.

[Tom Graham]

An ICE officer was hit and dragged by a car following a traffic stop in Franklin Park Friday morning. Homeland Security says the officer feared for his life, so he opened fire, killing Silverio Villegas Gonzalez. Investigators say he was in the US Illegally and had a history of reckless driving. The deadly encounter comes less than a week into the Trump administration's operation labeled Midway Blitz, targeting sanctuary policies. Illinois Governor J.B. pritzker says he's demanding full transparency. Tom Graham, Fox News, Memphis.

[Ted Lindner]

Tennessee's mayor says he'll support President Trump's federal crackdown on crime, but he doesn't believe sending in the National Guard's the answer. Fox's Lisa Brady with more on this.

[Lisa Brady]

President Trump calls Memphis deeply troubled and says he'll fix it, just like the recent crime crackdown in Washington, D.C. the mayor is happy.

[Unidentified Commentator]

He's a Democrat mayor. The mayor is happy. And the governor. Tennessee. The governor is happy.

[Lisa Brady]

Memphis Mayor Paul Young calls that an overstatement.

[Paul Young]

I want to be clear. I did not ask for the National Guard, and I don't think it's the way to drive down crime.

[Lisa Brady]

But the mayor says it's not his call. So he's pledging a strategic effort to to influence how troops engage in the community and focusing on federal law enforcement resources he believes will help to reduce violent crime.

[Ted Lindner]

LISA Brady, FOX news and I'm Ted Lindner. This is FOX news.

[Trey Gowdy]

Hey, I'm Trey Gowdy, host of the Trey Gowdy Podcast. I hope you will join me every Tuesday and Thursday as we navigate life together and hopefully find ourselves a little bit better on the other side. Listen and follow [e-mail].