12PM ET 08/18/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 12PM ET (August 18, 2025)

Host: Lisa Brady
Main Theme: Breaking News on US Politics, International Relations, Hurricane Erin, Domestic Safety, Healthcare Access, and Stock Market Updates

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1. White House Summit: Ukraine, Russia, and European Leaders

• [00:02] Lisa Brady: Announces a major diplomatic gathering at the White House, with several European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arriving following President Trump’s recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
• [00:13] Jared Halpern:
  • Context: President Trump met Putin in Alaska three days prior and is now receiving Zelensky along with European officials to discuss potential peace agreements.
  • Trump’s confidence on social media:

    “I’ll get it done. I always do.” (Trump, Truth Social, paraphrased at 00:20)

  • Trump additionally claims to have “settled six wars during his second term.”
  • Zelensky’s perspective:

    “Ukraine is ready to work productively to reach peace, but warns Russia can only be forced into peace through strength.” (00:27)

• [00:43] Lisa Brady:
  • Key focus: “Security guarantees for Ukraine” are central, as US officials indicate Putin may be open to NATO giving assurances to Ukraine, without full NATO membership.

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2. Russian Attacks on Ukraine

• [00:59] Volodymyr Zelensky:
  • Zelensky on latest Russian strikes:

    “A demonstrative and cynical strike.”

  • Suggests Russia timed new attacks to coincide with White House meetings.
  • Regions impacted: Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Odessa.

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3. Hurricane Erin’s Latest Path

• [01:22] Lisa Brady (via Jonathan Savage):
  • Hurricane Erin: Upgraded to Category 4, passing east of Turks and Caicos. Not a direct US threat but causing dangerous rip currents.
• [01:33] Steven Canfield:
  • Warnings in Daytona Beach, FL.
• [01:36] Janice Dean (with practical advice):

  “Don’t swim out, don’t swim in, swim parallel, and that rip will cease to grab on you any longer.” (01:39)

• [01:41] Steven Canfield:
  • Erin expected near North Carolina later in the week; Outer Banks officials have already called for evacuations.

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4. President Trump Proposes Executive Order on Mail-in Voting

• [02:15] Lisa Brady:
  • Trump signals an executive move to address mail-in voting.
• [02:20] Jessica Rosenthal:
  • Trump’s stance:

    “Elections can never be honest with [mail-in voting]…most countries do not allow mail-in voting.” (paraphrased, 02:23)

  • He promises an executive order to “bring honesty back into the process,” but the Constitution gives states the right to administer elections. Congress can legislate changes.
  • Context: 2020 mail-in voting peaked at 43%, now down to just over 30%.

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5. Safety Incident in Times Square

• [03:01] Lisa Brady:
  • Evacuation: Active NYPD investigation due to a suspicious package in Times Square.
  • Additional officers called for crowd control; no further details provided yet.

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6. Wider Availability of Weight Loss Drugs

• [03:19] Jenny Cosola:
  • Novo Nordisk partnership with GoodRx:
    • Wegovy (weight loss) and Ozempic (diabetes) now widely accessible via telehealth for $499/month at 70,000+ pharmacies.
    • GoodRx reaches 30 million consumers, 1+ million healthcare professionals.
    • Novo Nordisk will also sell Ozempic directly to eligible consumers via their own platforms.
    • Notable approval: Wegovy cleared by FDA to treat a form of liver disease.

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7. Stock Market Update

• [04:01] Lisa Brady:
  • “Not much movement on Wall street right now. The Dow’s down 29 points. The S and P and the Nasdaq also in the red.” (04:01)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump:

  “I’ll get it done. I always do.” (Truth Social, 00:20)

• President Zelensky:

  “Ukraine is ready to work productively to reach peace, but warns Russia can only be forced into peace through strength.” (00:27)
  “A demonstrative and cynical strike.” (On Russian attacks, 00:59)

• Janice Dean (on rip currents):

  “Don’t swim out, don’t swim in, swim parallel and that rip will cease to grab on you any longer.” (01:39)

• Jessica Rosenthal (on mail-in voting):

  “Elections can never be honest with it…” “The states are merely an agent for counting and tabulating votes.” (Summarizing Trump, 02:23–02:30)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• White House Ukraine/Russia Summits: 00:02–00:59
• Russian Attacks in Ukraine: 00:59–01:22
• Hurricane Erin Update: 01:22–01:51
• Trump’s Mail-in Voting Order: 02:15–03:01
• Times Square Evacuation: 03:01–03:19
• Weight Loss Medications Expansion: 03:19–04:01
• Stock Market Brief: 04:01–04:13

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This update delivers a fast-paced, news-packed rundown of top global and national stories, with a sharp eye on US politics, developing international crises, practical public safety advice, and consumer health developments. The tone is brisk and factual, with occasional direct quotes for emphasis.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

The gathering at the White House. Lisa Brady, FOX News Several European leaders due to arrive at this hour ahead of Ukraine's leader who will meet first with President Trump after his Friday meeting with Russia's president.

[Jared Halpern]

Three days after hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, President Trump is welcoming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders to discuss possible peace agreements. Ahead of the meetings, President Trump on Truth Social wrote, I'll get it done. I always do. Claiming to have settled six wars during his second term, Zelensky says Ukraine is ready to work productively to reach peace, but warns Russia can only be forced into peace through strength. At the White House, Jared Halpern, FOX.

[Lisa Brady]

News Security guarantees for Ukraine expected to be a key part of today's focus after US Officials suggested Putin is open to NATO allies agreeing to defend Ukraine in the future even though he's opposed to NATO membership for Ukraine. Meantime, more deadly Russian attacks alongside images.

[Volodymyr Zelensky]

Of a burning apartment complex with massive holes in its roof, President President Volodymyr Zelensky condemns what he calls a demonstrative and cynical strike. Posting on X the Ukrainian leader accusing Russia of timing the attacks to coincide with today's big meetings in Washington. Kharkiv Zaporizhzhia, Sumy and Odessa, all targeted this morning.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jonathan Savage. Hurricane Erin is now a Category 4 storm as it passes east of Turks and Caicos, still expected to avoid a direct hit on the US but threatening dangerous rip currents.

[Steven Canfield]

They're already warning people in Daytona beach.

[Janice Dean]

Don'T swim out, don't swim in, swim parallel and that rip will cease to grab on you any longer.

[Steven Canfield]

Steven Canfield with Volusia County, Florida. Later this week, Erin will be off the coast of North Carolina and officials in the Outer Banks have already called for evacuations.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Evan Brown, America is listening to FOX News.

[Janice Dean]

I'm Janice Dean. Join me every Sunday as I focus on stories of hope and people who are truly rays of sunshine in their their community and across the world.

[Jason Chaffetz]

Listen and follow [e-mail].

[Lisa Brady]

President Trump is proposing an executive order meant to address his concerns about mail in voting.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

In a truth social post, President Trump blasted mail in voting, insisting elections can never be honest with it. He notes most other countries do not allow mail in voting. And so ahead of midterms next year, he says he will sign an executive order meant to bring honesty back into the process. As he put it, the president also writes the states are merely an agent for counting and tabulating votes. However, the Constitution does give states the right to administer elections in the manner of their choosing, though Congress can change voting regulations through law. In the last presidential election, a little over 30% of ballots were cast by mail. That is a decline from a high of 43% in 2020 during the pandemic. Jessica Rosenthal, FOX News.

[Lisa Brady]

An evacuation in New York's Times Square. Police urging people to avoid the area because of an active police investigation reportedly involving a suspicious package. Additional officers being called in for crowd control, but no other details yet. Some popular weight loss medications will now be more widely available.

[Jenny Cosola]

Pharma company Novo Nordisk is offering weight loss medication Wegovy and diabetes treatment Ozempic through telehealth service Goodrx. Eligible patients will be able to self pay for Ozempic or govy pens for $499 a month at more than 70,000 retail pharmacies nationwide. Goodrx says it is used by nearly 30 million consumers and more than 1 million healthcare professionals annually. Also, Novo Nordisk will make Ozempic available directly to eligible consumers across its own platforms. And Wegovy has received approval from the FDA for treatment of a type of liver disease.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jenny Cosola, not much movement on Wall street right now. The Dow's down 29 points. The S and P and the Nasdaq also in the red. And Lisa Brady, FOX NEWS.

[Jason Chaffetz]

This is Jason Chaffetz from the Jason in the House podcast. Join me every Monday to dive deeper into the latest political headlines and chat with remarkable guests. Listen and follow now@fox newspodcast.com or wherever you download podcasts.