Fox News Hourly Update: 12AM ET 10/23/2025 Newscast

Host: Sue Guzman (FOX News)
Date: October 23, 2025

Episode Overview

This newscast covers significant national and international events, focusing on newly announced U.S. sanctions on Russia, the prolonged U.S. government shutdown, New York City's heated mayoral race, diplomatic efforts in Israel, and a targeted U.S. military action against narcotics smuggling. The tone is urgent and informative, reflecting breaking news and political tensions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. New U.S. Sanctions on Russia

[00:02–00:38]

• Main story: The U.S. Treasury Department issues robust new sanctions against Russia, focusing on the two largest Russian oil companies.
• Reason: Triggered by lack of progress in negotiations to end the ongoing war in Ukraine, especially after President Trump delayed a meeting with Vladimir Putin in Hungary.
• Soundbite:
  • Scott Bessant (Treasury Secretary):

    "This will be one of the largest sanctions that we have done against the Russian Federation." [00:26]

  • Explanation of U.S. frustration:

    "President Putin has not come to the table in an honest and forthright manner as we'd hoped...The Treasury Department is prepared to take further action if needed." [00:35–00:38]

2. U.S. Government Shutdown: Day 23

[00:38–01:43]

• Status: The federal shutdown enters its 23rd consecutive day, with the Senate failing for the 12th time to pass a reopening measure.
• Political tensions:
  • House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries accuses President Trump’s administration of illegal mass firings:

    "Donald Trump and his out of control administration have already illegally fired more than 200,000 federal employees prior to the beginning of the government shutdown." [01:01]

  • Outcome: Democrats "lost nearly all court challenges" about the layoffs. [01:16]
• Food assistance warning:
  • House Majority Leader Steve Scalise warns:

    "Food stamps are going to run out of money after October if they can't get this clean funding bill passed." [01:16]

  • Jeffries responds with urgency about the potential impact:

    "Over 40 million low income Americans are the ones who qualify for SNAP benefits. They're gonna be denied food starting in November, according to USDA because these guys just want to show their far left radical base that they hate President Trump." [01:27]

• Filibuster:
  • Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley ends a marathon speech at 22 hours, 37 minutes—short of Cory Booker's earlier record.

3. New York City's Mayoral Race: Final Debate

[03:12–04:01]

• Debate focus: Crime and public safety solutions.
• Candidates’ positions:
  • Andrew Cuomo (Independent, former Governor):

    “Hire the 5,000 more cops. Because they're all quitting because they're getting worked too hard.” [03:23]

  • Curtis Sliwa (GOP):

    “We need to start charging juveniles who commit violent crime in criminal court.” [03:34]

  • Zoran Mamdani (Democrat):

    “Creating a Department of Community Safety that will be focused on the mental health crisis, focused on homelessness and will ensure that police officers can focus on serious crimes.” [03:42]

• Would they accept Mayor Eric Adams’ endorsement?
  • Mamdani: “No.” [03:56]
  • Cuomo: “Yes, I would.” [03:58]
  • Sliwa: “Absolutely not. Put that crook in.” [03:58]

4. Diplomatic Developments in Israel

[04:06–04:37]

• VP J.D. Vance is in Israel supporting a “fragile ceasefire.”
  • Vance:

    “Having seen what's already been built in just the past seven days, I think that we're on an incredible pathway here to do something that has never been done.” [04:10]

• Meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
  • Herzog (via Scott Bessant):

    “We are grateful to President Donald Trump for his steadfast insistence on moving forward. We must move forward. We must offer hope for the region, for Israel, for the Palestinians, our neighbors.” [04:20]

• International Court of Justice: Orders Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

5. U.S. Military Action in the Pacific

[04:37–05:09]

• Defense update:
  • Secretary Pete Hegseth announces a “lethal kinetic strike” on a vessel in the eastern Pacific.
  • Details:
    • Three killed, no U.S. forces harmed.
    • Targeted vessel linked to narcotics smuggling and a designated terrorist organization.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Scott Bessant (on Russia):

  "This will be one of the largest sanctions that we have done against the Russian Federation." [00:26]

• Hakeem Jeffries (on government layoffs):

  "Donald Trump and his out of control administration have already illegally fired more than 200,000 federal employees..." [01:01]

• Andrew Cuomo (on policing):

  "Hire the 5,000 more cops. Because they're all quitting because they're getting worked too hard." [03:23]

• J.D. Vance (in Israel):

  "I think that we're on an incredible pathway here to do something that has never been done." [04:10]

• Secretary Pete Hegseth (military strike):

  "Three men on the ship were killed and no US Forces were harmed during the operation." [04:37]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:02] — New Russia Sanctions Announced
• [00:38] — Government Shutdown Day 23 & Food Stamp Crisis
• [01:43] — Filibuster Recap
• [03:12] — NYC Mayoral Debate Highlights
• [04:06] — VP Vance in Israel, Ceasefire Efforts, ICJ Ruling
• [04:37] — U.S. Military Strike in Pacific

Tone & Language

The episode maintains a rapidly-paced, serious tone with factual reporting and direct quotations from political figures, reflecting the critical nature of the issues discussed.

Summary Prepared For: Listeners seeking a comprehensive catch-up on major U.S. and world events covered by Fox News Radio as of October 23, 2025.