Fox News Hourly Update: 12PM ET Newscast – September 19, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of the Fox News Hourly Update, anchored by Elisa Brady, delivers rapid news coverage on the U.S. government’s efforts to avert a shutdown, developments on Capitol Hill, international economic news, and reactions to revelations in political memoirs. The briefing also touches on major corporate news, court fights over passport gender policies, and recent shifts in the stock market.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Congressional Efforts to Avoid Government Shutdown

• Short-Term Spending Bill Passed
  • The House passed a short-term “clean” spending bill to keep government funded for seven more weeks. Speaker Mike Johnson urges the Senate to quickly pass it, while firmly objecting to the Democrats’ counter proposal.
  • Speaker Mike Johnson (00:19):

    “What Chuck Schumer is trying to DO is force $1.4 trillion in additional spending on the American people, a spending hike on a very short term continuing resolution to keep the government open.”

  • Johnson also criticizes proposals to fund healthcare for undocumented immigrants.
• Senate Dynamics
  • Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says Democrats’ plan would reverse healthcare cuts and forthcoming premium hikes.
  • Jessica Rosenthal explains the legislative outlook (00:41), noting both versions of the bill are expected to stall:

    “They're going to take the House bill, subject that to a 60 vote threshold. That won't happen...then they're going to consider the Democratic bill that needs 60 votes. That will fail as well. And then they are stalled when it comes to a government shutdown.”

• Critical Timing
  • Funding expires in 11 days, intensifying pressure for a bipartisan solution before a shutdown.

2. House Resolution: Charlie Kirk & Rejecting Political Violence

• The House passed a resolution honoring Charlie Kirk and calling for a recommitment to respectful debate and the rejection of political violence.
  • Mike Johnson (01:15):

    “Debate, uphold American values and respect one another as fellow Americans. Sadly, a number of Democrats could not bring themselves to vote for them.”

  • The resolution passed 310-58, with nearly 40 lawmakers voting “present.” Notably, 95 Democrats joined Republicans in support.

3. U.S.-China Relations & TikTok Deal

• Former President Trump reports a “very productive” phone call with China’s president, addressing progress on “many important issues,” including preliminary approval of a TikTok deal.
  • Trump announces plans for face-to-face meetings at an upcoming South Korea summit and reciprocal visits.

4. Hyundai’s U.S. Investment and Immigration Raid Fallout (02:22)

• Reporter Jenny Costola highlights Hyundai’s commitment to expanding production at its Meta plant in Georgia by 2028, resulting in 3,000 new jobs and a projected annual output of 500,000 vehicles.
• Context: Over 300 Korean workers were recently detained during an immigration raid, temporarily delaying the launch of an EV battery plant onsite. Both Hyundai and Georgia officials are working to mitigate tensions.
• South Korean officials have called for U.S. visa policy reforms in response.

5. Legal Battle: Passport Gender Identity Policy (03:00)

• The Trump administration is seeking Supreme Court intervention after a lower court upheld the right for the State Department to issue passports reflecting a person’s gender identity.

6. Kamala Harris Memoir Revelation: Pete Buttigieg as Potential Running Mate (03:24)

• Lisa Brady reports on a passage from Vice President Kamala Harris’s memoir “107 Days,” in which Harris considered, but ultimately declined, to pick Pete Buttigieg as her running mate due to perceptions it was “too risky,” specifically citing his sexual orientation.
  • Buttigieg responds, praising voters’ ability to look beyond identity:

    “You earn trust with voters based on what they think you’re going to do for their lives, not based on categories.”

  • Buttigieg also reminds listeners of his state's blue shift in 2008:

    “His home state of Indiana went blue for the first time since LBJ in 2008 when Barack Obama became president.”

7. Stock Market Update (04:05)

• Lisa Brady notes stocks are higher, with the Dow up about 50 points, extending record gains from the previous day.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mike Johnson on Senate Democrats’ Spending Plan (00:19):

  “What Chuck Schumer is trying to DO is force $1.4 trillion in additional spending on the American people...”

• Jessica Rosenthal on Senate Votes (00:41):

  “They only have 53 Republicans in the Senate. They need seven Democrats and then they're going to consider the Democratic bill that needs 60 votes. That will fail as well.”

• Mike Johnson on House Resolution (01:15):

  “Debate, uphold American values and respect one another as fellow Americans. Sadly, a number of Democrats could not bring themselves to vote for them.”

• Pete Buttigieg Responds to Harris’s Memoir (03:24):

  “You earn trust with voters based on what they think you’re going to do for their lives, not based on categories.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Clean Spending Bill Passed in House: 00:02 – 01:02
• House Resolution on Political Violence: 01:02 – 01:24
• Trump on China and TikTok Deal: 01:24 – 01:59
• Hyundai Expansion in Georgia: 02:15 – 03:00
• Legal Fight Over Passport Policy: 03:00 – 03:24
• Kamala Harris Memoir and Buttigieg Response: 03:24 – 04:05
• Stock Market Brief: 04:05 – 04:09

Conclusion

This episode offers a fast-paced summary of key national and international headlines in under five minutes, maintaining Fox News’ direct and spirited tone. Negotiations to avoid a government shutdown, bipartisan efforts against political violence, US-China relations, and social policy debates dominate, while economic updates and in-depth coverage of corporate and cultural developments round out the newscast. The episode skillfully blends political strategy, economic shifts, and human stories, keeping listeners up to date and engaged.