Fox News Hourly Update Episode: 12PM ET 07/17/2025 Newscast Release Date: July 17, 2025 Host: Therese Crowley

1. Senate Passes $9 Billion Funding Clawback

Therese Crowley introduces a significant development in federal funding:

[00:02] "The Doge is done. I'm Therese Crowley. Fox news. Clawing back $9 billion in federal funding."

The Senate, under Republican leadership led by John Thune, voted 51-48 in a late-night session to retract $9 billion previously appropriated for foreign aid and public broadcasting. Ayesha Hasni provides context on the magnitude of this move:

[00:17] "What we're talking about here is 1/10 of 1% of all federal spending, 1/10 of 1% of ALL federal spending. But it's a step in the right direction."

An unnamed Senate reporter details the contentious process:

[00:28] "First resistance package in decades after a marathon amendment vote that lasted about 12 hours long. All Democrats who were there voted no. Two Republicans joined them, moderate Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski."

Key points include:

• Susan Collins expressed uncertainty over the specific program reductions.
• Lisa Murkowski criticized the current functioning of the Senate.
• The bill specifically cuts funding for NPR and PBS but exempts $400 million for PEPFAR, an AIDS relief program, following White House negotiations.

2. House Advances Crypto Regulation Bills Amid Stiff Resistance

Returning to Capitol Hill, Therese Crowley reports on the House's progress regarding cryptocurrency regulation:

[01:05] "Now back to the House for a final vote. And on this crypto week in Congress."

Mike Johnson, House Speaker, discusses the arduous process to push the bills forward:

[01:16] "House Speaker Mike Johnson spending over 10 hours trying to unite his conference enough to push through a procedural vote to approve rules for crypto."

Despite significant delays, the House successfully advanced three crypto regulation bills by a narrow five-vote margin after a prolonged procedural vote lasting nearly ten hours—the longest in House history:

[01:43] Mike Johnson: "Sometimes it just takes longer than other times. And that vote ran for 9 hours and 45 minutes is the longest vote in the history of the House of Representatives."

Peter Doocy adds:

[01:41] "A good product and I'm happy we got it done."

The legislation faced criticism from Democrats, who labeled it a "crypto corruption scheme," but ultimately, the Speaker emphasized the effectiveness of the process and the outcome.

3. President Trump Criticizes Republican Followers on Epstein Narrative

Therese Crowley shifts focus to President Trump's stance on recent discussions surrounding Jeffrey Epstein:

[02:32] "President Trump says some Republicans are being duped by winless Democrats encouraging what he calls a Jeffrey Epstein hoax."

At the White House, Peter Doocy elaborates on the administration's strategy:

[02:41] "The president's new strategy here is to try to discredit new Epstein concerns by tying them to different narratives that have dogged him during his time at the Oval Office."

A political analyst provides additional insight:

[02:50] "It's just a subject. He's dead, he's gone and all it is is the Republicans. Certain Republicans got duped by the Democrats and they're following a democr playbook and no different than Russia, Russia, Russia and all the other hoaxes on this one."

Peter Doocy further comments on internal Republican dynamics:

[03:07] "The most interesting dissenting voices are not the Democrats, they are the Republicans who want more than what the president is giving them. Ultimately, though, President Trump believes he has got bigger fish to fry than Jeffrey."

4. Firing of Maureen Comey Sparks Speculation

In a noteworthy personnel change, Therese Crowley reports the dismissal of Maureen Comey:

[03:17] "Epstein, and former Epstein prosecutor Maureen Comey was fired Wednesday. The U.S. attorney from the Southern District of New York is the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey. No reason given."

Background on Maureen Comey:

[03:17] "Comey also worked the prosecution of Sean Diddy Combs, a risky RICO prosecution on sex trafficking charges that the jury didn't buy, convicting him of more basic prostitution counts."

The firing raises questions about future investigations and the administration's stance on sensitive legal matters.

5. Iowa's Lincoln Dinner: A Launchpad for Presidential Candidates

Therese Crowley highlights a pivotal event in Iowa:

[03:17] "A historic annual dinner tonight in Iowa is considered an early stop for potential presidential candidates."

Ayesha Hasni provides details on the event and its significance:

[03:46] "Iowa's Republican Party will host its annual Lincoln Dinner in Des Moines tonight. For the GOP, Iowa is seen as a springboard for conservatives, with White House hopes."

Key figure spotlighted:

• Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin serving as the keynote speaker.

  [03:46] "The keynote speaker for this year's event, Virginia Governor Glenn Young, is fueling speculation on if he will seek to succeed President Trump. Youngkin can't run for re-election in Virginia in 2026. Governors there, by state law, cannot serve consecutive four-year terms."

Discussion on potential candidates:

[03:46] "Opinions on Youngkin's potential candidacy come even though many see Vice President J.D. Vance as an early GOP frontrunner for 2028."

The event is poised to be a significant indicator of the Republican field's direction as the 2028 presidential race approaches.

Conclusion

Therese Crowley wraps up the newscast, reaffirming Fox News' commitment to delivering the latest updates:

[04:23] "I'm Therese Crowley. This is Fox News."

Note: The segments featuring advertisements by Ryan Reynolds and Mint Mobile have been omitted as per the summary guidelines.