Fox News Hourly Update – 12PM ET | July 26, 2025
Hosted by FOX News Podcasts
1. Ghislaine Maxwell Faces Continued Legal Scrutiny
[00:02] Jack Callahan opens the segment by highlighting the ongoing legal challenges facing Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell, a convicted sex offender and former associate of Jeffrey Epstein, was questioned by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche for the second consecutive day.
[00:20] David Marcus, Maxwell's attorney, expressed frustration, stating, “She has been treated unfairly for the past five years. She didn't get a fair trial. We're still appealing to the Supreme Court.” He further revealed plans to file a reply to the Supreme Court regarding her cert petition on Monday, asserting, “the truth will come out.”
Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence in Tallahassee for her involvement in Epstein’s trafficking and abuse of underage girls. Jack Callahan notes speculations about Maxwell seeking a presidential pardon or a commutation of her sentence. When questioned, a spokesperson for President Trump declined to comment, stating, “It’s something I have not thought about.”
2. President Trump Engages in EU Trade Talks in Scotland
[00:56] Jack Callahan transitions to international affairs, reporting on President Trump's visit to Scotland to discuss economic matters with European Union leaders.
[01:07] Jackie Heinrich, Fox's correspondent in Edinburgh, conveys the President's assessment of the trade deal's prospects: “the chances of a trade deal with the EU are about 50, maybe less.” However, Trump remains cautiously optimistic, comparing the situation to Japan's earlier negotiations. He emphasized potential consequences if talks falter:
“He will impose 30% tariffs on EU imports on August 1st if it comes to that,” Jackie Heinrich reports.
In response, the EU has indicated readiness to retaliate with equivalent tariffs on over $100 billion worth of U.S. goods, including bourbon, soybeans, and airplanes. Callahan adds that President Trump is set to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to further discuss trade deliberations.
3. Federal Court Rejects Trump Administration's Sanctuary City Lawsuit
In a significant legal defeat for the Trump administration, Carmen Roberts reports that a federal judge dismissed the administration's lawsuit against Illinois and Chicago. The lawsuit targeted local sanctuary policies, alleging they hindered federal immigration enforcement.
[02:32] Carmen Roberts highlights the ruling by U.S. District Judge Lindsey Jenkins, who stated, “the government lacked standing to override local laws that limit cooperation and information sharing between law enforcement.” Additionally, the administration continues its legal battle against New York City over similar sanctuary policies.
4. FAA Investigates Southwest Airlines' Evasive Maneuver
[02:38] Jack Callahan brings attention to an aviation incident reported by Madeline Rivera. A Southwest Airlines jet, shortly after departing from Burbank Airport, made a drastic descent to avoid a potential mid-air collision.
[03:18] Madeline Rivera provides details:
“The Southwest plane dropped from around 14,000ft to about 13,500ft within a minute, sending passengers screaming.”
The FAA indicates the maneuver was a response to alerts about another aircraft—a Hawker Hunter jet—in the vicinity. Fortunately, two flight attendants sustained only minor injuries, and the aircraft landed safely in Las Vegas. Madeline Rivera also references a similar incident from the previous week, where a passenger plane avoided colliding with a B52 bomber over North Dakota.
5. Escalating Tensions: Israeli Airstrikes and Palestinian Responses
In a brief update, Jack Callahan reports that Israeli airstrikes and gunfire resulted in the deaths of at least 25 individuals overnight. Palestinian health officials and local ambulance services, both under Hamas control, have reported the incident. The Israeli army has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding the shootings.
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