12PM ET 10/20/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 12PM ET 10/20/2025

Main Theme
A fast-paced briefing of U.S. and international headlines: A rare earth agreement between the U.S. and Australia, a continued government shutdown, Supreme Court gun case, escalating tensions with Colombia, developments on Ukraine, progress in reducing peanut allergies in children, and a rally in the stock market.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S.-Australia Rare Earth Agreement

• Historic White House Meeting: President Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese finalize a major agreement on critical minerals and rare earths.

  • President Trump explains the deal was months in the making and stresses the importance of U.S.-Australia alliance.
  • Albanese believes the agreement significantly deepens bilateral relations.

  Quote:

  • President Trump: “We are discussing critical minerals and rare earths. And we're going to be signing an agreement that's been negotiated over a period of four or five months. And it was sort of good timing that we got it done just in time for the visit.” [00:08]
  • President Trump: “We are great friends and we're great allies and this is a relationship that's been forged in the battlefields of the world. We have stood side by side for freedom and democracy.” [00:27]

2. Gaza Ceasefire & Ongoing U.S. Government Shutdown

• International Diplomacy: Australian PM congratulates Trump on a recent ceasefire deal in Gaza.

• Shutdown Stalemate:

  • 20 days into a federal government shutdown.
  • Republicans (per House Majority Whip Tom Emmer) accuse Democrats of taking Americans “hostage” over spending demands; Democrats focus on healthcare demands, particularly Obamacare tax credits.

  Quote:

  • Tom Emmer: “They've taken the American people hostage while pointing fingers at us for refusing to concede to their absurd wish list of demands.” [00:50]

3. Supreme Court Gun Rights Case – Focus on Drug Use

• Upcoming Case: Justices will review a lower court ruling striking down a gun ban for habitual drug users, specifically marijuana.

• Context:

  • The Fifth Circuit overturned a conviction of Ali Hamani, found to be a regular drug user in possession of firearms.
  • DOJ maintains habitual drug users with guns are a public safety risk.
  • Broader implications for gun laws and the interpretation of the Second Amendment.

  Quote:

  • Legal Analyst: “The Fifth Circuit determined such a ban on his ability to own a gun was unconstitutional under the Supreme Court's expanded view of gun rights.” [01:19]

4. U.S.-Colombia Diplomatic Tension

• Colombia’s Ambassador Recalled: Over accusations from President Trump referring to Colombian President Petro as a “drug leader.”

• Aid and Trade: Trump announces new tariffs and the cessation of U.S. aid to Colombia, pointing to ongoing drug production and ineffective anti-narcotics efforts.

• Background: Fuelled by a Colombian accusation about a U.S. hit on a fisherman during anti-drug operations.

  Quote:

  • President Trump: “They make drugs. They refine drugs. They make cocaine. They have cocaine factories. They have no fight against drugs. And I'm stopping all payments to Colombia because they don't have anything to do with their fight against drugs.” [02:49]

5. Russia-Ukraine Diplomatic Developments

• U.S.-Russia Preparations: State Department confirms a phone call between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russia’s Foreign Minister, laying groundwork for a potential summit on ending the Ukraine war. [03:17]

6. Peanut Allergy Progress in Children

• Declining Allergy Rates: New research shows a major drop in peanut allergies among children aged 0–3, after guidance began to introduce peanuts earlier to infants.

  • Study findings: 27% decline post-2015 guidance for high-risk children; over 40% after recommendations broadened in 2017.
  • 60,000 fewer cases attributed to this approach.
  • Previous practice delayed introduction, but did not slow allergy rates.

  Quote:

  • Food Allergy Advocate: “Advocates for the 33 million people in the US with food allergies say it's proof that it's possible to reduce the incidence and prevalence of peanut allergies in children... The study shows peanut allergies in kids age 0 to 3 declined by more than than 27% after guidance for high risk kids was first issued in 2015, and by more than 40% after the recommendations were expanded in 2017.” [03:37]

7. Stock Market Update

• Rally: Both the Dow and the Nasdaq are up more than 300 points at midday. [04:17]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump on the Australia agreement:
  “We are discussing critical minerals and rare earths. And we're going to be signing an agreement…” [00:08]
• Tom Emmer on the shutdown:
  “They've taken the American people hostage while pointing fingers at us...” [00:50]
• Legal Analyst on gun rights:
  “The Fifth Circuit determined such a ban on his ability to own a gun was unconstitutional…” [01:19]
• President Trump on Colombia:
  “They make drugs. They refine drugs. They make cocaine... And I'm stopping all payments to Colombia...” [02:49]
• Food Allergy Advocate on peanut allergy progress:
  “It's proof that it's possible to reduce the incidence and prevalence of peanut allergies in children…” [03:37]

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Important Timestamps

• 00:08 | Trump & Australian PM – Rare earth deal
• 00:27 | Trump on US-Australia alliance
• 00:50 | Emmer on the government shutdown
• 01:19 | Legal Analyst on Supreme Court gun case
• 02:36 | Colombia’s ambassador recalled, Trump’s statements
• 03:17 | US-Russia call on Ukraine war
• 03:37 | Study: Drop in peanut allergies
• 04:17 | Stock market rally update

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Summary Tone
The newscast is brisk and focused, with political and diplomatic updates reflecting FOX News’ signature direct and urgent tone. President Trump’s active foreign policy moves, congressional friction, and evolving health guidance stand out as the top stories.

This summary delivers the news highlights for quick, informed catch-up on the hour’s major events.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

A signing side by side at the White House. Lisa Brady, FOX News. As President Trump meets with Australia's prime.

[President Donald Trump]

Minister, we are discussing critical minerals and rare earths. And we're going to be signing an agreement that's been negotiated over a period of four or five months. And it was sort of good timing that we got it done just in time for the visit.

[Lisa Brady]

Prime Minister Albanese says the rare earth agreement will take existing US Australia relations to the next level.

[President Donald Trump]

We are great friends and we're great allies and this is a relationship that's been forged in the battlefields of the world. We have stood side by side for freedom and democracy.

[Lisa Brady]

Also just congratulating President Trump on the recent Gaza ceasefire deal. It's day 20 of a government shutdown with neither side blinking.

[Food Allergy Expert / Health Advocate]

They've taken the American people hostage while pointing fingers at us for refusing to concede to their absurd wish list of demands.

[Lisa Brady]

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer as Republicans pressed Democrats to pass short term spending to reopen the government, which has failed 10 times in the Senate so far. They'll vote again today. Democrats want health care issues addressed, especially soon to expire Obamacare tax credits. The U.S. supreme Court will take up another gun case this term, this time focusing on drug use.

[Legal Analyst / Court Reporter]

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the case against Ali Hamani, who was charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm while being a habitual user of an illegal drug, in this case marijuana, though during a search of his parents home in Lewiston, Texas, cocaine was also found. The Fifth Circuit determined such a ban on his ability to own a gun was unconstitutional under the Supreme Court's expanded view of gun rights. The gun and drugs were found during an investigation into possible ties or communication between Hamani and Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Justice Department under President Trump appealed, arguing a habitual drug user who owns firearms presents a public safety risk.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jessica Rosenthal, America is listening to FOX news.

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[Lisa Brady]

Colombia's ambassador to the US Is called home over accusations and threats from President Trump.

[Chris Foster]

Ambassador Daniel Garcia Pena is already back in Bogota to meet with Colombian President Gustavo Petro called an illegal drug leader by President Trump on social media, later telling reporters on Air Force One he'll be cutting aid and imposing new tariffs.

[President Donald Trump]

They make drugs. They refine drugs. They make cocaine. They have cocaine factories. They have no fight against drugs. And I'm stopping all payments to Colombia because they don't have anything to do with their fight against drugs.

[Chris Foster]

This is after President Petro accused the United States government of murdering a Colombian fisherman last month in one of the recent strikes on boats allegedly carrying drugs. The Colombian government is prosecuting a survivor of one of those strikes last week. Chris Foster, Fox News, the State Department.

[Lisa Brady]

Just confirming a call between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russia's foreign minister, part of setting the stage for a possible presidential summit on ending the Ukraine war. Guidance for parents aimed at reducing peanut allergies appears to be paying off in a new study a decade after the advice began to introduce peanuts to children as early as 4 months old.

[Food Allergy Expert / Health Advocate]

Advocates for the 33 million people in the US with food allergies say it's proof that it's possible to reduce the incidence and prevalence of peanut allergies in children after roughly 60,000 kids avoided developing peanut allergies. The study's author called it remarkable. The study shows peanut allergies in kids age 0 to 3 declined by more than than 27% after guidance for high risk kids was first issued in 2015, and by more than 40% after the recommendations were expanded in 2017. For decades, doctors had recommended delaying feeding children peanuts and other foods likely to trigger allergies until age 3. But that didn't cut the overall increase in food allergies in the U.S. fox's.

[Lisa Brady]

CJ Papa a rally on Wall street, both the Dow and the Nasdaq are up more than 300 points. I'm Lisa Brady. This is Fox.

[Will Kane]

It's Will Kane COUNTRY Watch it live at noon Eastern Monday through [e-mail] or on the Fox News YouTube channel. And don't miss the show. Listen and follow the podcast five days a week at foxnewspodcasts.com or wherever you download your favorite podcasts.