Fox News Hourly Update - July 18, 2025

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Passage of the Genius Act and Rescissions Bill

[00:02] Therese Crowley opened the newscast by highlighting President Trump's celebration following the congressional passage of two significant pieces of legislation: the Genius Act, which regulates stablecoin cryptocurrencies, and the Rescissions Bill, which aims to retract $9 billion in federal spending targeted by Representative Matt Rosendale, colloquially referred to as "Doge."

Jared Halpern provided detailed coverage on the legislative process, noting that "the House voted 216 to 213 to sync up with the Senate and send this bill to the president's desk" ([00:17]). He explained that the bill enacts the spending cuts initiated by Rosendale, specifically blocking $8 billion earmarked for USAID and over $1 billion from the Department of Labor allocated to Public Broadcasting, the funding body for PBS and NPR. Halpern further elaborated on the political ramifications, stating, "Some Republicans were worried about Congress ceding its power of the purse to the White House. Ultimately, though, they say the bill is necessary to cut back on wasteful spending" ([00:17]). In contrast, Democrats argue that the bill "threatens lives and national security by providing China and Russia with a chance to fill the cuts in American aid" ([00:17]).

Senate Amendments and Biden White House Developments

Therese Crowley continued by reporting that the Senate amended the bill to reinstate aid funding, specifically mentioning that Public Broadcasting’s board is now exclusively composed of Democrats. She also touched upon internal White House dynamics, noting that "the third key Biden White House aide Annie Tomasini refused to answer questions today about the former president's mental decline and unauthorized use of autopilot" ([00:52]).

Moving to issues of accountability, Crowley cited House Oversight Chair James Comer, who stated, "There is now a pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability" ([00:52]). Additionally, updates on President Trump's health were provided. Caroline Levitt, the White House Press Secretary, read a memo from the president's physician detailing that Trump "underwent several tests that revealed chronic venous insufficiency, a benign condition more common in patients older than 70" ([01:25]). Pam Bondi, the Attorney General, emphasized that "there was no evidence of vein thrombosis or arterial disease" ([01:35]). Levitt further explained the physical symptoms observed, including bruising on Trump's hand due to "soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and regular aspirin use" ([01:40]).

Jeffrey Epstein Investigation Intensifies

Transitioning to legal matters, Therese Crowley reported that President Trump is once again directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to uncover more information on the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. However, the retrieval of information is complicated by "sealed grand jury records and courts protecting a thousand witness names" ([02:16]).

Pam Bondi addressed the situation, stating, "The Justice Department is ready to ask a federal court to unseal grand jury transcripts in the Jeffrey Epstein case" ([02:28]). She noted President Trump’s insistence on releasing the transcripts, citing "a ridiculous amount of publicity given to Epstein" ([02:28]). However, Bondi acknowledged that the request does not meet the demands of some congressional Republicans who seek the release of all investigative files, including those from the FBI and Justice Department, beyond just the court-presented testimony ([02:28]). The push for transparency has caused divisions within Trump's support base, as some supporters "have raised questions about Epstein and his clients, causing a fracture among Trump's base" ([02:28]). Bondi had previously committed to revealing more information, including a supposed client list, but retracted this claim the previous week, stating, "there wasn't one" ([02:28]).

Explosion at LA Sheriff's Department Facility

Therese Crowley updated listeners on a tragic incident in Los Angeles, where the FBI is responding to a suspected deadly explosion at an LA County Sheriff's Department facility. Reports indicate that "at least three people are dead" ([03:04]). The situation remains under investigation, with authorities seeking more information on the cause and circumstances surrounding the explosion ([04:00]).

New York City Mayoral Race and Political Implications

The update also covered the New York City mayoral race, highlighting concerns about the progressive Democrat candidate Zoran Mamdani. Despite his popularity among progressive Democrats, Republican opposition labels his policies as "too far to the left," and even some Democrats from swing districts are hesitant to endorse him ([03:26]).

Hakeem Jeffries, the House Minority Leader, expressed his intentions to engage with Mamdani, stating, "We're going to have a very robust discussion" ([03:26], [03:36]). Jeffries elaborated, "The Democratic Party nominee for New York City mayor has taken the nation by storm as progressive Democrats have been excited about his candidacy, while Republicans have attacked his policies as being too far to the left. And even some swing district Democrats are refusing to endorse him" ([03:38]). As of the report, Jeffries had not yet publicly endorsed Mamdani, indicating a need for further dialogue within the party ([03:38]).

Closing Updates

As the newscast concluded, Therese Crowley reiterated the ongoing investigation into the LA Sheriff's Department explosion and emphasized the importance of staying informed through FOX News updates ([04:00]).

Notable Quotes:

• Jared Halpern [00:17]: "Some Republicans were worried about Congress ceding its power of the purse to the White House. Ultimately, though, they say the bill is necessary to cut back on wasteful spending."

• House Oversight Chair James Comer [00:52]: "There is now a pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability."

• Hakeem Jeffries [03:26]: "We're going to have a very robust discussion."

This comprehensive update from the Fox News Hourly Update provides listeners with in-depth coverage of significant political developments, legislative actions, ongoing legal investigations, and local incidents affecting national discourse.