12AM ET 10/18/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update

Episode: 12AM ET 10/18/2025 Newscast

Date: October 18, 2025

Host: Debra Valentine

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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.

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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."

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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..."

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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."

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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."

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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..."

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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

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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

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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.

Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

Trump, Zelensky and Tomahawks. I'm Debra Valentine, Fox News. President Trump meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky today as they seek an end to the war in Ukraine. Fox's Peter Doocy has more from the White House.

[Peter Doocy]

President Trump referred to himself. He gave himself a new title, the mediator president. And we learned that President Zelensky isn't just asking for Tomahawk missiles to strike deep inside Russia. He is offering a trade, basically Tomahawk missiles for Ukrainian drones.

[Commercial Announcer]

The United States has Tomahawks and other.

[Peter Doocy]

Missiles, very strong missiles, but they can.

[Kevin Cork]

Have our thousands of drones.

[Peter Doocy]

Some new info about the upcoming meeting with President Trump and President Putin. For the time being, it doesn't sound like Zelensky is going to be directly involved. Too much bad blood according to President Trump. But despite that, he thinks this war may be nearing a beginning of the end of the point, that maybe the talk about new missiles to the battlefield can end here.

[Debra Valentine]

Trump tells Zelensky he's hesitant to give Ukraine Tomahawks. Former national security adviser John Bolton appearing in court following his indictment on charges he mishandled classified documents. Fox's David Spunt has more from Greenbelt, Maryland.

[David Spunt]

This lasted about 20 minutes. It was an initial appearance and his arraignment where he pleaded not guilty. He was very confident when he stood in front of this magistrate judge, he didn't have much to say. As he walked in the building. I asked him if he had a comment. In fact, he had nothing to say. But he's facing these 18 federal charges. After he was indicted yesterday, authorities say he not only kept secret classified information at home, he also shared that information with two different family members. DOJ officials say he had diary like entries about his work days at the White House and shared classified information up to the top secret SEI level. That's the top of the top. And shared them on messaging, apps and email personal accounts.

[Debra Valentine]

Bolton has signaled he will argue he's being targeted because of his criticism of President America's. Listening to Fox News.

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[Debra Valentine]

Two people accused of being part of a Venezuelan drug Cartel are in U.S. custody. Fox's Kevin Cork in Washington with the details.

[Kevin Cork]

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. So far, those attacks have killed nearly 30 people, and now President Trump is warning targets inside Venezuela. They could also be soon hit. The campaign believed to be part of a broader effort to oust the country's president, who many believe is illegitimate.

[Debra Valentine]

The American Civil Liberties Union says the Trump administration strikes on Venezuelan boats could result in civilian deaths, which the administration denies. President Trump is blaming China for escalating a trade war with the United States as he threatens severe tariffs. Fox's Jared Halpern has more from the.

[Jared Halpern]

White House in response to China tightening exports of rare earth minerals needed for a range of electronic and high end products, President Trump says he'll slap an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods starting next month.

[Peter Doocy]

It's not sustainable, but that's what the number is. It's probably not, you know, it could.

[Jared Halpern]

Stand, the president telling Fox Business Network's Maria Bartiromo. China forced the move. Beijing has also stopped purchasing US Grown soybeans since tariffs were put in place. President Trump is expected to meet later this month with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a summit in South Korea at the White House. Jared Halpern, Fox News President Trump has.

[Debra Valentine]

Commuted the sentence of former Congressman George Santos, who'd been serving more than seven years in prison after pleading guilty to fraud and identity theft charges. 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, to make donations to his own campaign. I'm Deborah Valentine. This is Fox.

[Will Tain]

It's Will Tain Country. Watch it live at noon Eastern Monday through Thursday at foxnews. Com or on the Fox News YouTube channel. And don't miss the show. Listen and follow the podcast five days a week at foxnewspodcasts. Com or wherever you download your favorite podcasts.