Fox News Hourly Update – 12AM ET, October 26, 2025

Podcast: Fox News Hourly Update
Host: Deborah Valentine
Date: October 26, 2025
Duration: ~5 minutes (main content)

Overview

This condensed Fox News Radio newscast covers breaking international and national headlines, with a focus on President Trump’s diplomatic trip to Asia, ongoing U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, a severe hurricane threatening the Caribbean, and developments in New York City’s mayoral race. The episode moves quickly through key issues shaping the day, providing brief updates directly from Fox News field reporters and correspondents.

Key Discussion Points

1. President Trump’s Asia Trip and Diplomatic Developments

• President Trump begins a major diplomatic tour in Malaysia.
• Focus on a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, highlighting American diplomatic engagement in Southeast Asia.
• Upcoming stops include Japan and South Korea, with high anticipation for Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
• Issues on the agenda with President Xi: tariffs, trade, the Ukraine war, grain shipments, and rare earth exports, amid rising U.S.-China tensions.
• First meeting set with Japan’s newly sworn-in first female prime minister.
• Potential outreach to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, though not confirmed.

Notable Quote:

“The pivotal talks come as tensions between the world’s two biggest economies continues to rise.”
— Chanley Painter (00:38)

2. U.S. Middle East Policy: Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Israel

• Top U.S. diplomats continue high-level engagement amid a government shutdown at home.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio visits Israel, meeting with families of American-Israeli citizens whose remains are held by Hamas.
• Rubio promises continued U.S. efforts to recover hostages’ remains.
• Rubio tours a U.S.-supported coordination center in southern Israel, where American and Israeli military personnel are involved in enforcing a fragile Gaza ceasefire.
• Discussion on the creation of an international security force for the Gaza Strip, stipulating Israeli approval of its members.

Notable Quote:

“We will not rest until there and all remains are returned.”
— Marco Rubio, quoted by Stephanie Bennett (01:19)

3. Severe Weather: Hurricane Melissa Approaches the Caribbean

• Hurricane Melissa forecast to bring catastrophic, potentially Category 5 conditions to Jamaica and the Caribbean.
• The storm’s severity highlighted by its expected long duration, threatening to set a new standard for regional hurricanes.
• Reports of fatalities in the Dominican Republic and Haiti already, caused by the precursor tropical storm.

Notable Quote:

“So this is really setting up to be a whole different kind of a catastrophic hurricane event than we’re used to because of the duration.”
— Brian Norcross (03:25)

4. Domestic News: International Swatting Arrest and New York City Mayoral Race

• Update on a Minnesota police investigation into two “swatting” incidents linked to an international extremist cybercrime network, with collaborative arrests made with UK authorities. Details remain undisclosed.
• Early voting in New York City’s mayoral race begins.
• Zoran Mamdani, young state assemblyman, holds polling lead, endorsed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
• Independent candidate/former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa challenge Mamdani, with frequent focus on his past positions regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict and policing.
• Mamdani campaigns on affordability, claims Islamophobia in race.
• Vice President J.D. Vance criticizes Mamdani on social media for prior remarks on 9/11.

Notable Quote:

“According to Zoran, the real victim of 9/11 was his auntie.”
— Vice President J.D. Vance (04:50)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On U.S.-Asia diplomatic tensions:
  “The pivotal talks come as tensions between the world’s two biggest economies continues to rise.”
  — Chanley Painter (00:38)

• On hostages in Israel:
  “We will not rest until there and all remains are returned.”
  — Marco Rubio, as relayed by Stephanie Bennett (01:19)

• On Hurricane Melissa’s severity:
  “This is really setting up to be a whole different kind of a catastrophic hurricane event than we’re used to because of the duration.”
  — Brian Norcross (03:25)

• On New York mayoral race controversy:
  “According to Zoran, the real victim of 9/11 was his auntie.”
  — Vice President J.D. Vance (04:50)

Segment Timestamps

• 00:02 – Malaysia hosts President Trump; overview of Asia diplomatic trip (Deborah Valentine, Chanley Painter)
• 00:53 – Government shutdown/state of U.S. politics, Rubio's Israel visit (Deborah Valentine, Stephanie Bennett)
• 03:12 – Hurricane Melissa update (Deborah Valentine, Brian Norcross)
• 03:35 – Swatting arrests in Minnesota; New York City mayoral race coverage (Deborah Valentine, CB Cotton)
• 04:12 – Focus on NYC mayoral candidates, endorsements, and controversies (CB Cotton)
• 04:57 – Summary of mayoral field; episode wrap (Deborah Valentine)

Summary

This briskly paced newscast covers major global and domestic developments, framing President Trump's Asia diplomacy and U.S. crisis response abroad alongside urgent weather warnings and contentious city politics at home. While providing the latest facts and context from Fox News correspondents, the episode notably highlights the international reach of American policy and the intensity of local political contests, all under the looming threat of natural disaster and ongoing cybercrime investigations.