12PM ET 09/30/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 12PM ET 09/30/2025 Newscast

Host: Lisa Brady (FOX News Podcasts)
Date: September 30, 2025

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Overview

This brisk midday newscast covers evolving national defense policy from the White House, a looming government shutdown, a military base lockdown, questions about no-fly lists during the Biden era, the latest on hurricane threats, and the state of the U.S. jobs market and financial indices.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pentagon Policy Shift and Military Leadership

• Presidential Address to Military Leaders
  • President Trump addressed America's highest-ranking officers, emphasizing a pivot from "political correctness" to merit-based military policy.
  • Trump announced the military’s core function is to defend the nation, not protect feelings.
• Combating Domestic Unrest
  • The president discussed deploying National Guard troops to address crime and violence in U.S. cities.
  • He framed domestic threats as an "enemy from within."

Notable Quotes:

• President Trump (00:21):
  “It's because the purposes of American military is not to protect anyone's feelings. It's to protect our republic.”

• President Trump (00:34):
  “It's the enemy from within and we have to handle it before it gets out of control. It won't get out of control.”

• Military Culture and Standards

  • War Secretary Pete Hegseth critiqued “woke culture” in the armed forces.
  • Announced:
    • New gender-neutral physical fitness standards.
    • Military leaders opposed to these policies are urged to resign.

2. Healthcare Pricing and Government Shutdown Tensions

• Drug Price Reductions

  • President Trump announced a deal with Pfizer, aiming to cut costs for several medications and hinting toward broader drug price reductions.

• Congressional Clashes

  • Democrats push to reverse certain healthcare cuts in Trump’s “big beautiful bill.”
  • Urgency as a government shutdown deadline looms at midnight.

• Federal Workforce Concerns

  • Democrats fear a shutdown could result in mass firings.
  • Some note the administration has already downsized the federal workforce.

Notable Quotes:

• Jared Halpern (01:17):
  “Democrats are concerned that a shutdown could trigger mass firings of federal workers. Some Democrats say it doesn't matter if the government closes. That's because the administration already eliminated portions of the federal workforce.”

3. Military Base Lockdown Scare

• Incident at Joint Base Maguire Dix Lakehurst (NJ)
  • Reports of an active shooter led to a lockdown.
  • Shortly after, an official “all clear” was issued; no threat remained.
  • Noted as one of the country’s largest military bases.

4. No-Fly List Controversy

• Fox News Digital Investigation
  • Documents from the Biden era show critics of COVID policies, including public opponents of mask mandates, were placed on TSA watchlists and in some cases on the no-fly list.
  • 280 individuals involved in the January 6th riot were also listed, as well as people falsely connected through bad intelligence, including a National Guardsman.
  • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accuses the Biden TSA of overreaching and punishing free expression; refers case to Justice Department and Congress.

Notable Quotes:

• Kristi Noem (02:39):
  “The Transportation Security Administration put 19 people on various watch lists including some on the no fly list who had resisted mask mandates publicly. 280 people involved in the January 6 riot were placed on lists, including five who were not allowed to fly at all.”

5. Weather Updates

• Hurricane Activity
  • Hurricane Umberto delivers dangerous weather to Bermuda and generates swells along the East Coast, Bahamas, and Bermuda.
  • Newly-formed Hurricane Imelda is impacting North Carolina with rain capable of causing flash flooding.

6. Economic Snapshot

• Labor Market Report
  • Job creation exceeded expectations in August, with 7.2 million openings (per JOLTS survey).
  • Sectors like construction and federal government saw fewer openings; public arts and hospitality sectors saw decreased separations.
• Stock Market Update
  • Stocks are down; the Dow Jones drops 114 points at midday, with S&P and Nasdaq also in negative territory.

Notable Quotes:

• Jenny Cosella (03:45):
  “Job creation was stronger than expected on the last business day of August. The Job Openings and Labor Turnover survey found 7.2 million openings.”

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Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• President Trump on the Military’s Mission — (00:21)
  “It's because the purposes of American military is not to protect anyone's feelings. It's to protect our republic.”
• President Trump on Domestic Threats — (00:34)
  “It's the enemy from within and we have to handle it before it gets out of control. It won't get out of control.”
• Jared Halpern on Shutdown Concerns — (01:17)
  “Democrats are concerned that a shutdown could trigger mass firings of federal workers. Some Democrats say it doesn't matter if the government closes. That's because the administration already eliminated portions of the federal workforce.”
• Kristi Noem on No-Fly List Abuse — (02:39)
  “The Transportation Security Administration put 19 people on various watch lists...including some on the no fly list who had resisted mask mandates publicly.”

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Timeline of Key Segments

• 00:02–00:46 — Pentagon defense policy, President Trump’s address, and military leadership changes
• 00:46–01:30 — Healthcare policy, government shutdown risk, Capitol Hill updates
• 01:30–01:45 — Military base lockdown in New Jersey
• 02:30–03:21 — Scrutiny over no-fly lists and Biden TSA policies
• 03:21–03:45 — Weather updates (Hurricanes)
• 03:45–04:18 — Labor market and stock market updates

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Summary

This Fox News newscast captures major developments on national defense, policy disputes over healthcare and budgets, emergent crises, and economic indicators, blending hard-hitting political rhetoric with updates on weather and business. President Trump’s renewed focus on military “merit” and de-emphasizing “political correctness” sets the tone for the newscast’s coverage of evolving governmental priorities, contentious congressional negotiations, and scrutiny of administrative overreach in the previous administration.

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Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

A new focus at the Pentagon. Lisa Brady, FOX News. The commander in chief addressing a room full of America's highest ranking military officers to outline new defense policy.

[Jared Halpern]

In a sometimes partisan speech, President Trump told a gathering of generals and admirals the military is no longer about political correctness but merit.

[President Trump]

It's because the purposes of American military is not to protect anyone's feelings. It's to protect our republic.

[Jared Halpern]

President Trump also addressed deploying National Guard troops to combat crime and violence in American cities.

[President Trump]

It's the enemy from within and we have to handle it before it gets out of control. It won't get out of control.

[Jared Halpern]

Before remarks from the president, War Secretary Pete Hegseth outlined an into woke culture in the military.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jared Halpern @ the White House. Hegseth also announcing gender neutral standards for physical fitness and suggesting that any military leaders who don't agree with the new approach should resign. The president's now back at the White House just announcing a plan with Pfizer to lower prices on several medications with a goal of broader price cuts on more drugs. Democrats in Congress still pushing to reverse some health care related cuts made in the president's big beautiful bill. But time runs out at midnight tonight to avoid a government shutdown.

[Jared Halpern]

Democrats are concerned that a shutdown could trigger mass firings of federal workers. Some Democrats say it doesn't matter if the government closes. That's because the administration already eliminated portions of the federal workforce.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox is chad program on Capitol Hill. The Senate will vote on a short term spending bill already passed by the House today. But it can't clear a procedural hurdle without bipartisan support. Just a short time ago getting word of a lockdown at a military base in New Jersey, reports of an active shooter. However, a Facebook post is now saying all clear at Joint Base Maguire Dix Lakehurst. That's one of the largest bases in the country. America is listening to Fox News.

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[Lisa Brady]

New scrutiny on who ended up on a no fly list during the Biden administration after Fox News Digital uncovered documents revealing some were COVID policy critics.

[Kristi Noem]

The Transportation Security Administration put 19 people on various watch lists including some on the no fly list who had resisted mask mandates publicly. 280 people involved in the January 6 riot were placed on lists, including five who were not allowed to fly at all. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told Fox News President Biden's TSA wildly abused its authority. Fox viewed one email from a privacy official at TSA at the time who expressed concern they were punishing people for expressing ideas when they hadn't been charged, let alone convicted. Two people who weren't even at the Capitol riot, including a National Guardsman, were added to the list due to bad intelligence. Noem says she's referring all of this to the Justice Department and Congress.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jessica Rosenthal the outer bands of Hurricane Umberto lashing Bermuda today, with newly formed Hurricane Imelda following closely behind. And Imelda is also pelting the southeast part of North Carolina with rain that could lead to flash flooding. Umberto, meantime, generating dangerous swells along the U.S. east Coast, Bahamas and Bermuda. A brighter snapshot of the US labor market.

[Jenny Cosella]

Job creation was stronger than expected on the last business day of August. The Job Openings and Labor Turnover survey found 7.2 million openings. The previous month was revised higher also to 7.2 million. There were fewer job openings in construction and federal government. Total separations from jobs decreased in accommodation and food services, arts, entertainment and recreation, but increased in state and local government, excluding education. Jenny Cosella, FOX News Stocks are lower for now.

[Lisa Brady]

The dow is down 114 points. The S and P and the Nasdaq also in the red. Lisa brady, this is 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 community and across the world.

[Siemens Energy Announcer]

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