12PM ET 08/19/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 12PM ET 08/19/2025

Main Theme:
This newscast covers a rapidly shifting global political landscape, significant U.S. domestic policy debates, urgent safety concerns for American families, and major sports and weather updates. The episode delivers fast-paced reports on President Trump’s Ukraine peace efforts, federal pressure on sanctuary cities, Meta’s AI controversy involving minors, Hurricane Erin, and the record-breaking sale of the Boston Celtics.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. President Trump’s Push for a Ukraine-Russia Peace Deal

• Breakthrough Hopes:
  President Trump expresses hope for a breakthrough in ending the war in Ukraine after hosting major diplomatic meetings.
  • Quote:
    “He’s hopeful for a breakthrough.” – Lisa Brady [00:02]
• NATO Membership Off the Table:
  Trump reveals that a peace agreement would offer Ukraine robust security guarantees but keep it out of NATO.
  • Quote:
    “Ukraine will get robust security guarantees. They’re not going to be a part of NATO, but we’ve got the European nations and they’ll front loaded.” – President Trump [00:14–00:18]
• On Russia and Putin:
  Trump downplays Russian opposition and signals leaders’ fatigue with the war, hinting at upcoming developments.
  • Quote:
    “I think Putin is tired of it. I think they’re all tired, but you never know. We’re going to find out about President Putin in the next couple of weeks, that I can tell you.” – President Trump [00:29]
• Arranging Critical Meetings:
  Trump has phoned Putin to begin arranging a potential meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky, possibly followed by a trilateral summit.
  • Quote:
    “The president says if a Putin Zelensky meeting works out, a trilateral with him could follow.” – Jared Halpern [00:49]

2. Federal Pressure on Sanctuary Cities

• DOJ Crackdown:
  Over 30 sanctuary cities, including Boston, face a deadline to justify or adjust policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
  • Quote:
    “The Justice Department has given more than 30 so called sanctuary cities until today to outline their plans to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.” – Tony J [01:02]
• Boston’s Response:
  Mayor Michelle Wu criticizes federal funding threats, highlighting city efforts to support residents despite federal cutbacks.
  • Quote:
    “While you are cutting health care and food assistance for our families, Boston has launched new coalitions to connect residents to fresh food, stable housing and job training to build healthy, long lives.” – Boston Mayor Michelle Wu [01:22]
• Executive Order:
  Wu issued a June executive order asking ICE to provide arrest information, signaling a nuanced approach to city–federal cooperation.
• Federal Message:
  Attorney General Pam Bondi reiterates the administration’s intent to enforce safety if localities do not.
  • Quote:
    “If cities and states won’t keep citizens safe, the president will.” – Pam Bondi paraphrased, Lisa Brady [01:42]

3. U.S. Trade Policy Update

• Tariff Expansion:
  The Commerce Department adds hundreds of categories of derivative products to steel and aluminum tariffs, escalating trade protections on manufactured goods.
  • Quote:
    “The president’s steel and aluminum tariffs will now apply to many more things.” – Lisa Brady [01:42]

4. Meta’s AI Chatbot Scandal and Congressional Reaction

• Policy Breach:
  Internal Meta documents reveal that romantic or “flirtatious” conversations between its AI chatbot and minors as young as 13 were permitted, triggering bipartisan outrage.
  • Quote:
    “An internal policy document reviewed by Reuters revealed that romantic or flirtatious conversations were allowed with minors.” – Jessica Rosenthal [02:20]
• Congressional Calls for Investigation:
  Missouri Senator Josh Hawley demands an immediate investigation, urging Meta to preserve all records.
  • Quote:
    “This is grounds for an immediate Congressional investigation.” – Jessica Rosenthal (paraphrasing Hawley) [02:36]
  • Senator Brian Schatz calls the policy “disgusting and evil,” expressing disbelief that it was approved at multiple levels.
  • Quote:
    “What Meta allowed is disgusting and evil… my head is exploding knowing that multiple people approved this.” – Brian Schatz, via Jessica Rosenthal [02:49]

5. Hurricane Erin Emergency

• Weather Alert:
  Parts of North Carolina declare a state of emergency as Hurricane Erin skirts the U.S. coast, threatening dangerous surf and rip currents despite not anticipating landfall.
  • Quote:
    “Not expected to make a U.S. landfall but will threaten storm surge and life-threatening rip currents as it moves up and away from the East Coast.” – Lisa Brady [03:03]
• Official Watches and Warnings:
  Tropical storm warnings are in effect for North Carolina’s Outer Banks, with watches extending north to Virginia.

6. Record-Breaking Boston Celtics Sale

• Historic NBA Franchise Deal:
  The Boston Celtics’ majority stake is sold for $6.1 billion to a group led by Bill Chisholm—marking the highest price ever paid for a North American sports franchise.
  • Quote:
    “The valuation of this sale was $6.1 billion, an increase of nearly 1,600%… The most ever paid for a North American pro sports franchise.” – Sports Reporter [03:22]
• Ownership Transition:
  Chisholm’s group takes over 51% now, full ownership by 2028. The Celtics had major success under the previous regime, including four NBA Finals appearances and two titles in 23 years.

7. Financial Market Snapshot

• Stock Market Update:
  The Dow is up 10 points, reaching a new high earlier in the day.
  • Quote:
    “Stocks are mixed. The Dow’s up 10 points, hitting a new high earlier.” – Jared Mack [04:04]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump on Ukraine and Putin:
  “We’re going to find out about President Putin in the next couple of weeks, that I can tell you.” [00:29]
• Mayor Michelle Wu directly addressing DOJ funding threats:
  “While you are cutting health care and food assistance for our families, Boston has launched new coalitions…” [01:22]
• Senator Brian Schatz (via X, paraphrased):
  “What Meta allowed is disgusting and evil… my head is exploding…” [02:49]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Ukraine Peace Efforts & NATO Update: 00:02 – 00:49
• Sanctuary Cities DOJ Ultimatum & Boston’s Response: 01:02 – 01:42
• Tariff Expansion Announcement: 01:42
• Meta AI Chatbot – Congressional Outrage: 02:15 – 03:03
• Hurricane Erin State of Emergency: 03:03 – 03:22
• Boston Celtics Sale Coverage: 03:22 – 04:04
• Stock Market Brief: 04:04 – 04:10

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This episode offers a brisk, fact-driven update on vital national and world events with a focus on political maneuvering, local and federal policy standoffs, child tech safety, severe weather threats, and headline-making business in sports.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

He's hopeful for a breakthrough. Lisa Brady, FOX News. President Trump working on next steps to end the war in Ukraine after yesterday's big meetings. And he says Ukraine would not join NATO as part of a possible agreement.

[President Trump]

Ukraine will get robust security guarantees.

They're not going to be a part of NATO, but we've got the European nations and they'll front loaded.

Speaking on FOX and Friends, President Trump says he does not think that arrangement will be a problem for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

I think Putin is tired of it. I think they're all tired, but you never know. We're going to find out about President Putin in the next couple of weeks, that I can tell you.

As European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met here yesterday, President Trump says he also phoned Putin to begin arrangements for a potential meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox is Jared Halpern at the White House. The president says if a Putin Zelensky meeting works out, a trilateral with him could follow. Boston's mayor is responding to a federal funding threat over the city's immigration policies.

[Tony J]

The Justice Department has given more than 30 so called sanctuary cities until today to outline their plans to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Attorney General Pam Bondi also demanded a detailed breakdown of how they will, quote, dismantle any laws, policies or practices the DOJ says are obstructing that enforcement. And Boston Mayor Michelle Wu had an answer.

[Boston Mayor Michelle Wu]

While you are cutting health care and food assistance for our families, Boston has launched new coalitions to connect residents to fresh food, stable housing and job training to build healthy, long lives.

[Tony J]

In June, Wu signed an executive order asking ICE officials to provide information on who they're arresting in Boston, Fox's Tony J.

[Lisa Brady]

Power as U.S. attorney General Pam Bondi says if cities and states won't keep citizens safe, the president will. The president's steel and aluminum tariffs will now apply to many more things. The Commerce Department confirming hundreds of categories added to a list of derivative products. America is listening to FOX News.

[Bret Baier]

Listen to the all new Bret Baier podcast featuring Common Ground in depth talks with lawmakers from opposite sides of the aisle along with all your Bret Baier favorites like his All Star panel and much more. Available [e-mail] or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lisa Brady]

Anger and a call for action in Congress After Meta's AI chatbot for kids.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

Allowed sensual conversations, an internal policy document reviewed by Reuters revealed that romantic or flirtatious conversations were allowed with minors. The document details approved language versus overtly sexual conversation that is not approved. Still, the types of conversations allowed with 13 year olds have outraged lawmakers who've been pushing for online safety legislation for years. Missouri Republican Josh Hawley said this is grounds for an immediate congressional investigation, he writes in a letter to Meta to preserve their records. Hawaii Democratic Senator Brian Schatz wrote on X that what Metta allowed is disgusting and evil, that his head is exploding, exploding knowing that multiple people approved this. Jessica Rosenthal, Fox News A state of.

[Lisa Brady]

Emergency in parts of North Carolina over Hurricane Erin, which is not expected to make a US Landfall but will threaten storm surge and life threatening rip currents as it moves up and away from the East Coast. A tropical storm warning now for North Carolina's Outer Banks. With a watch extending to Virginia, the Boston Celtics are officially sold.

[Sports Reporter]

The deal had already been agreed upon and approved by the NBA Board of Governors and Tuesday money was exchanged. The sale of majority ownership of the 18 time NBA champion Boston Celtics to a group led by Bill Chisholm, finalized 23 years since an ownership group led by Wick Grossbeck bought the NBA's most decorated champion for $360 million. The valuation of this sale was 6.1 billion, an increase of nearly 1600%, the most ever paid for a North American pro sports franchise. The sale gives Bill Chisholm's group 51% ownership in the Celtics and in 2028 they'll get the whole team in 23 years. Under Wick Grossbeck, the Celtics made the playoffs 20 times. They went to the NBA Finals four times and won two championships.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jared Mack stocks are mixed. The Dow's up 10 points, hitting a new high earlier.

[Elisa Brady]

Elisa Brady, Fox News it's the Will Kane Show.

[Bret Baier]

Watch it live at noon Eastern Monday through Thursday on fox news.com or on the Fox News YouTube channel. And don't miss a show. Get the podcast five days a week at fox news podcast.com or wherever you download your favorite podcasts.