Fox News Hourly Update

Episode: 12AM ET 10/18/2025 Newscast

Date: October 18, 2025

Host: Debra Valentine

Overview

This episode delivers a concise roundup of major U.S. and international news, highlighting high-stakes diplomatic negotiations, legal developments involving public figures, escalating actions against Venezuelan drug cartels, U.S.-China trade friction, and a major presidential commutation. The tone is urgent and direct, in classic Fox News form.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. U.S.-Ukraine Diplomacy & Weapons Negotiations

Timestamps: 00:02 – 00:57

• President Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, aiming to seek "an end to the war in Ukraine."
• Trump brands himself "the mediator president," seeking a role as a broker in Eastern Europe.
  • Quote (Peter Doocy, 00:14): "President Trump referred to himself. He gave himself a new title, the mediator president."
• Zelensky isn't just requesting Tomahawk missiles from the U.S.; he’s offering a trade: Tomahawk missiles in exchange for Ukrainian drones.
  • Quote (Peter Doocy, 00:22): "[Zelensky] is offering a trade, basically Tomahawk missiles for Ukrainian drones."
• Trump remains hesitant to approve sending Tomahawks, citing risks of escalation.
  • Quote (Debra Valentine, 00:57): "Trump tells Zelensky he's hesitant to give Ukraine Tomahawks."
• Plans discussed about a possible Trump meeting with Russia’s President Putin, with Zelensky excluded for now due to "too much bad blood."
  • Quote (Peter Doocy, 00:40): "...for the time being, it doesn't sound like Zelensky is going to be directly involved. Too much bad blood according to President Trump."

2. Indictment of John Bolton

Timestamps: 00:57 – 01:50

• Former National Security Adviser John Bolton arraigned on 18 federal charges for mishandling classified documents, including sharing top secret information with family and via personal apps and email.
• Bolton pleaded not guilty and appeared "very confident" at his initial court appearance.
  • Quote (David Spunt, 01:10): "He was very confident when he stood in front of this magistrate judge, he didn't have much to say."
• DOJ alleges he kept "diary-like entries" about White House work and mishandled material up to the "top secret SEI level."
  • Quote (David Spunt, 01:39): "...he had diary like entries about his work days at the White House and shared classified information up to the top secret SEI level."
• Bolton claims the indictment is politically motivated due to his criticisms of Trump.
  • Quote (Debra Valentine, 01:50): "Bolton has signaled he will argue he's being targeted because of his criticism of President..."

3. U.S. Strikes on Venezuelan Cartel Operations

Timestamps: 03:12 – 03:43

• Two cartel suspects are now in U.S. custody after surviving a military strike on their boat, the sixth such strike on cartel operations off Venezuela.
• Nearly 30 people have died in these operations; President Trump is escalating warnings about further strikes inside Venezuela, aiming to undermine the country's contested president.
  • Quote (Kevin Cork, 03:19): "This after they survived a US Military strike on their boat Thursday. It is the sixth known US Strike on alleged cartel operations off the Venezuelan coast."
• Civil rights observers raise concerns about civilian casualties, which the Trump administration denies.
  • Quote (Debra Valentine, 03:43): "The American Civil Liberties Union says the Trump administration strikes on Venezuelan boats could result in civilian deaths, which the administration denies."

4. U.S.-China Trade War Escalation

Timestamps: 03:43 – 04:44

• President Trump blames China for escalating trade conflict after Beijing restricts exports of rare earth minerals vital to electronics and high-tech industries.
• In response, Trump threatens a new 100% tariff on Chinese goods starting next month.
  • Quote (Jared Halpern, 04:02): "President Trump says he'll slap an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods starting next month."
  • Quote (Peter Doocy, 04:16): "It's not sustainable, but that's what the number is."
• China halts purchases of U.S. soybeans in retaliation.
• Upcoming summit in South Korea scheduled between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
  • Quote (Jared Halpern, 04:23): "President Trump is expected to meet later this month with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a summit in South Korea."

5. George Santos Sentence Commuted

Timestamps: 04:44 – 05:09

• President Trump commutes the sentence of former Congressman George Santos, who was serving a seven-year sentence for fraud and identity theft.
• Santos admitted to deceiving donors and stealing identities, including those of his own family members, to make donations to his campaign.
  • Quote (Debra Valentine, 04:49): "The New York Republican was sentenced in April after admitting last year to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of 11 people, including his own family members..."

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• "President Trump referred to himself. He gave himself a new title, the mediator president." — Peter Doocy, 00:14
• "[Zelensky] is offering a trade, basically Tomahawk missiles for Ukrainian drones." — Peter Doocy, 00:22
• "Too much bad blood according to President Trump." — Peter Doocy, 00:40
• "He was very confident when he stood in front of this magistrate judge, he didn't have much to say." — David Spunt, 01:10
• "He had diary like entries about his work days at the White House and shared classified information up to the top secret SEI level." — David Spunt, 01:39
• "This after they survived a US Military strike on their boat Thursday. It is the sixth known US Strike on alleged cartel operations off the Venezuelan coast." — Kevin Cork, 03:19
• "President Trump says he'll slap an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods starting next month." — Jared Halpern, 04:02
• "It's not sustainable, but that's what the number is." — Peter Doocy, 04:16
• "The New York Republican was sentenced in April after admitting last year to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of 11 people, including his own family members..." — Debra Valentine, 04:49

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:02 – Trump-Zelensky meeting, weapons negotiations
• 00:57 – John Bolton indictment coverage
• 03:12 – Venezuelan cartel strikes and U.S. actions
• 03:43 – U.S.-China trade war update
• 04:44 – George Santos sentence commuted

Conclusion

This newscast delivers a succinct account of several major stories: President Trump's diplomatic maneuvering in Ukraine, the legal case against former advisor John Bolton, new U.S. military actions against Venezuelan drug cartels, a deepening trade standoff with China, and the extraordinary commutation of George Santos’s prison sentence. The episode moves quickly through each story with signature Fox News urgency, providing key facts, insider perspectives, and direct attributions that keep listeners up to date and engaged.