Summary4 min read

Fox News Hourly Update: 12PM ET 10/18/2025

Date: October 18, 2025
Host: Angelo Bavaro (FOX News Podcasts)
Episode Theme: Fast-moving coverage of current U.S. political events, protest movements, government shutdown, controversial mailings to lawmakers, Ukraine-Russia peace talks, and presidential pardon developments.

Main Theme Overview

This episode of the Fox News Hourly Update delivers a comprehensive briefing on major national and international news events as of October 18, 2025. Key focuses include widespread "No Kings" rallies protesting President Trump, the ongoing government shutdown and legislative standoffs in D.C., disturbing mailings received by GOP lawmakers, efforts by President Trump to broker peace in Ukraine, and the commutation of George Santos' prison sentence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. “No Kings” Rallies Protest President Trump ([00:02]–[01:05])

Rallies across the nation: Thousands participate in "No Kings" rallies across cities such as LA, D.C., Memphis, Portland, Chicago, with a major event in Times Square kicking off.
Chants caught on air:
- [00:18]–[00:24]
  - B: “Show me what democracy looks like.”
  - C: “This is what democracy looks like.”
Event’s purpose: Protesters denounce President Trump’s use of “masked agents,” which the event’s website describes as actions terrorizing communities, targeting immigrants, and making arrests without warrants.
Key political reactions:
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats set to participate.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson criticizes both the rally and Democratic participation.
- Independent Senator Bernie Sanders voices support: The rally “upholds the values of the Constitution.”
- Schumer urges participants to remain peaceful, noting a mostly peaceful record from June’s initial rally, with only sporadic violence and arrests.

2. Government Shutdown & Legislative Deadlock ([01:05]–[01:52])

Shutdown continues: House Speaker Mike Johnson orders members to stay in their districts, increasing pressure on Senator Schumer.
Senate actions: The Senate is preparing for its 11th vote on the House-passed “clean continuing resolution” at 5:30 pm Monday.
Inter-chamber tension: If the Senate approves it, Johnson will have to recall the House for a vote.
Escalating rhetoric: Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries condemns White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt for inflammatory language:
- Levitt called the Democratic Party “Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens and violent criminals.” ([01:46])
  - Quote: “... Democratic Party is made up of, quote, Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens and violent criminals.”
  - Attribution: Caroline Levitt ([01:46])

3. Threatening Mailings Target GOP Lawmakers ([02:16]–[03:05])

Incidents in Utah and elsewhere: Several Republican lawmakers receive altered American flags featuring the Nazi swastika.
- Congressman Mike Kennedy’s office receives one; an intern initially missed the symbol, but staff discovered it and contacted Capitol Police.
- Quote:
  - H: “It’s a corrupted American flag with the Nazi swastika right in the middle of this flag. And of course, we not only immediately took them down from the desk and we … I took a picture myself and we reported that to Capitol Police.” ([02:41])
Broader pattern: Other GOP congressional offices have received these mailings; the matter is now under Capitol Police investigation.

4. Trump Pushes Peace in Ukraine ([03:05]–[03:46])

Latest on Ukraine-Russia conflict: President Trump takes a direct role in diplomacy after talks with President Zelensky.
- Quote:
  - C: “It’ll be a great honor to get it done. And the Ukrainian people are great and the Russian people are great.” ([03:18])
Stakes and statements:
- Trump met with President Putin by phone for over two hours; both agreed to a summit later in Hungary.
- Trump, on social media: Calls for “both sides to come to an agreement. Stop where they are, let both claim victory and let history decide.”

5. George Santos Sentence Commuted ([03:46]–End)

Executive action: President Trump commutes the sentence of former Representative George Santos (NY).
- Santos had pleaded guilty to campaign fraud and identity theft (affecting 11 individuals, including family members).
- He was serving a 7+ year sentence but is released following the presidential order.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Protest Chants:
- B ([00:18]): “Show me what democracy looks like.”
- C ([00:20]): “This is what democracy looks like.”
Senator Bernie Sanders is cited (paraphrased):
- The rally “upholds the values of the Constitution.” ([00:40])
Capitol Hill Tension:
- Caroline Levitt ([01:46]): “Democratic Party is made up of, quote, Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens and violent criminals.”
Congressman Mike Kennedy on hate mail:
- H ([02:41]): “It’s a corrupted American flag with the Nazi swastika right in the middle of this flag…we reported that to Capitol Police.”
President Trump on Ukraine peace plan:
- C ([03:18]): “It’ll be a great honor to get it done. And the Ukrainian people are great and the Russian people are great.”
- On a peace deal: “Let both claim victory and let history decide.” ([03:43])

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:02 — Start of protest/rally coverage
00:18–00:24 — Protest chants captured live
00:27–01:05 — Event context, political reactions, and previous protest outcomes
01:05–01:52 — Government shutdown updates; legislative maneuvering and rhetoric
02:16–03:05 — Threatening mailings to GOP lawmakers
03:05–03:46 — Trump’s diplomacy efforts in Ukraine
03:46–End — George Santos commutation news

Episode Tone and Language

The episode maintains a brisk, reportorial tone—delivering headlines with direct quotes, occasional dramatic language (especially when discussing acts deemed threatening or inflammatory rhetoric), and a clear framing of political divisions. Each story is presented with FOX News’ characteristic emphasis on immediacy and impact.

This summary covers all significant news developments from the 12PM ET, Oct 18, 2025 Fox News Newscast, highlighting direct speech, critical analysis, and the sequence of events as broadcast.

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Transcript19 lines

[00:02]
A
Protesting President Trump. I'm Angelo Bavaro. Fox News. Thousands of no Kings rallies are being held across several major cities, including LA, D.C. memphis, Portland and Chicago. The event today in Times Square getting underway.
[00:18]
B
Show me what democracy looks like.
[00:21]
C
This is what democracy looks like.
[00:23]
B
Show me what democracy looks like.
[00:25]
C
This is what democracy looks like.
[00:27]
D
A statement from the event's website states. Since June, President Trump has doubled down. His administration is sending masked agents into our streets, terrorizing our communities. They are targeting immigrant families, profiling, arresting and detaining people without warrants. Several Democrats are expected to participate, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. House Speaker Mike Johnson is slamming the event and Democrats for taking part. But independent Senator Bernie Sanders says the rally is upholding the values of the Constitution. Schumer is urging protesters to march peacefully. Most of the demonstrations at the first no Kings rally in June were peaceful, but a handful did erupt into violence, leading to several arrests.
[01:05]
A
Fox's Madeline Rivera in an exclusive interview on Sunday morning Futures, airing on Fox tomorrow, President Trump stated that he is no king. The government shutdown drags on.
[01:16]
E
Speaker Johnson once again ordered House lawmakers to remain in their districts next week. That move is aimed at putting pressure on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Meanwhile, the Senate is scheduled to take its 11th vote on the House passed clean continuing resolution to fund the government at 5:30pm Monday. If that bill were to pass the Senate, then Speaker Johnson would have to call back the House in order to vote. And in another D.C. spat, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries slammed White House press Secretary Caroline Levitt after she said the Democratic Party is made up of, quote, Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens and violent criminals.
[01:52]
A
That is fox's Matt Finn. America is listening to Fox News.
[01:59]
F
It's Will Kane Country. Watch it live at noon Eastern Monday through Thursday@foxnews.com or on the Fox News YouTube channel. And don't miss the show. Listen and follow the podcast five days a week at Fox newspodcasts.com or wherever you download your favorite podcasts.
[02:16]
A
A Utah Republican becomes the latest of several GOP lawmakers being targeted by somebody sending American flags with Nazi symbols on them.
[02:25]
G
Congressman Mike Kennedy confirms to me his office did receive one of those modified American flags in the form of a Nazi swastika. He tells me an intern in the office received it. Didn't look closely at it enough to know what it was, but a staffer did and they immediately contacted Capitol Police.
[02:41]
H
It's a corrupted American flag with the Nazi swastika right in the middle of this flag. And of course, we not only immediately took them down from the desk and we I took a picture myself and we reported that to Capitol Police.
[02:55]
G
Other Republican congressional representatives have reported receiving the flags, too. We are told Capitol Police continue to investigate the origins of those flags. In Salt Lake City, Ben Winslow, FOX News.
[03:06]
A
President Trump is once again pushing for a peace plan following talks with Russian and Ukrainian leaders.
[03:11]
I
Sitting across the table from President Volodymyr Zelensky, President Trump expressed optimism the war in Ukraine could soon end.
[03:19]
C
It'll be a great honor to get it done. And the Ukrainian people are great and the Russian people are great.
[03:26]
I
The president spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for more than two hours on Thursday, both leaders agreeing to a summit later this month in Hungary. On his social media page, President Trump says both sides need to come to an agreement. Stop where they are, let both claim victory and let history decide. At the White House, Jared Halpern, Fox News.
[03:47]
A
President Trump has commuted the sentence of former U.S. representative George Santos. The New York Republican was sentenced in April after admitting last year to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of 11 people, including his own family members, to make donations to his campaign. Santos was serving more than seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud and identity theft charges. I'm Angelo Bavaro and this is FOX News.