2AM ET 07/18/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update: Detailed Summary of the 2AM ET July 18, 2025 Newscast

Release Date: July 18, 2025

The Fox News Hourly Update provided a comprehensive roundup of the latest national and international news at 2AM ET on July 18, 2025. Hosted by Sue Guzman and featuring insights from correspondents Chad Pergram and Kevin Cork, the episode delved into significant legislative developments, high-profile legal cases, presidential health updates, immigration controversies, and major entertainment news. Below is a detailed summary of the key topics discussed:

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1. House Passes $9 Billion Budget Clawback

Legislative Action and Implications

• Approval and Voting Breakdown: The House of Representatives approved a bill aimed at retrieving $9 billion from the federal budget, targeting expenditures on foreign aid and public broadcasting. The narrow vote stood at 216 to 213.

  [00:02] Sue Guzman: "The House has passed a bill that claws back $9 billion from the federal budget, including money for foreign aid and public broadcasting. The vote, 216 to 213."

• Party Lines and Key Votes: Notably, no Democrats supported the bill. Among Republicans, Mike Turner of Ohio and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania voted against it, primarily due to their support for specific foreign aid programs, particularly aid directed to Ukraine.

  [00:18] Chad Pergram: "There were no Democrats who voted for this and there were two Republican nos, Mike Turner, Republican of Ohio, and also Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican of Pennsylvania."

• Potential Future Actions: The bill's passage paves the way for President Trump to sign it into law. Chad Pergram highlighted that this maneuver, unprecedented in 30 years, could mark the beginning of multiple rescission efforts by the Trump administration to reclaim budgeted funds.

  [00:18] Chad Pergram: "This might be the first of several different rescissions opportunities by the Trump administration to try to claw back some of this money."

• House Speaker's Perspective: House Speaker Mike Johnson celebrated the bill's passage, emphasizing that it signals the start of continued fiscal reforms.

  [00:52] Sue Guzman: "House Speaker Mike Johnson celebrating the passage, saying this isn't the end, it is the beginning."

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2. President Trump's Stance on the Jeffrey Epstein Case

Demand for Transparency and Special Counsel Debate

• Trump’s Directive for Transparency: Amid ongoing scrutiny, President Trump has instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to release all pertinent grand jury testimony related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, countering recent statements that dismissed the existence of Epstein's client lists.

  [00:52] Sue Guzman: "President Trump says he's directing Attorney General Pam Bondi ask a court to release all relevant grand jury testimony in the Jeffrey Epstein case comes after Bondi recently announced there were no Epstein client lists."

• Opposition to Special Counsel: President Trump has publicly stated that he does not intend to appoint a special counsel to oversee the Epstein case, reinforcing his commitment to handling the matter within the current legal framework.

  [01:19] Chad Pergram: "President Trump says he's directing Attorney General Pam Bondi... After Bondi recently announced there were no Epstein client lists."

  [01:43] Caroline Levitt: "The president would not recommend a special prosecutor in the Epstein case. That's how he feels."

• Media and Political Reactions: While the Trump administration seeks transparency, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt criticized Democrats and mainstream media for not prioritizing the Epstein story.

  [01:26] Caroline Levitt: "Like to see Democrats and the mainstream media covering this like it's the biggest story that the American people care about."

• Bipartisan Calls for Further Investigation: Despite initial consensus, some Republicans and conservative voices are now advocating for a special counsel, especially after the Justice Department concluded the absence of a client list.

  [01:33] Chad Pergram: "It's not just Democrats demanding answers. After the Justice Department concluded there was no evidence of a client list, some Republicans and conservative influencers have called for a special counsel."

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3. President Trump's Health Update

Diagnosis and Medical Condition Clarifications

• Chronic Venous Insufficiency Diagnosis: President Trump underwent a comprehensive medical examination and was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition among individuals over 70, leading to blood pooling in the legs.

  [03:09] Sue Guzman: "The White House releasing the results of President Donald Trump's checkup on Thursday, who was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency."

• Details from the White House: Press Secretary Caroline Levitt shared the findings, noting that the president underwent extensive tests, including ultrasounds and a diagnostic vascular study, which confirmed that while he has lower leg swelling, there is no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease.

  [03:22] Kevin Cork: "According to his doctors, the president underwent a battery of tests, ultrasounds and a diagnostic vascular study and thankfully, he's doing just fine."

  [03:55] Sue Guzman: "As for the lower leg swelling, well, Levitt said there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or any arterial disease."

• Public Assurance: The White House aims to reassure the public regarding the president's health status, emphasizing that the condition is manageable and not life-threatening.

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4. Immigration Controversy: Alleged ICE Kidnapping Hoax

Legal Proceedings and Investigation Outcomes

• Allegation of Faked Abduction: An illegal immigrant in California, Uriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, was accused of orchestrating a fake kidnapping by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. She reportedly claimed abduction at a Jack in the Box location.

  [04:03] Caroline Levitt: "A woman in the country illegally allegedly said she was abducted at a Jack in the box by ICE officers."

• Community and Media Involvement: Following her claims, Calderon's daughter initiated a GoFundMe campaign seeking $4,500 and held a press conference pleading for her mother's return, amplifying the story through local media outlets.

• Thorough Investigation: Federal authorities conducted an exhaustive investigation, including reviewing surveillance footage, which ultimately disproved the kidnapping claim. Evidence suggested that Calderon had staged the incident to appear mistreated during ICE custody.

  [04:03] Caroline Levitt: "Federal officers had completed a thorough investigation... Authorities believe 41 year old Uriana Julia Pelaez Calderon staged these photos."

• Legal Consequences: As a result of the fraudulent claims, Calderon was arrested and faces charges of conspiracy and making false statements.

  [04:03] Caroline Levitt: "Calderon was arrested and charged with conspiracy and making false statements."

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5. Stephen Colbert’s 'The Late Show' to Conclude

End of an Era in Late-Night Television

• Announcement of Show's End: It was announced that 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' will conclude its 12-year tenure on CBS in May 2026. The network cited purely financial reasons amidst a challenging economic backdrop.

  [04:41] Sue Guzman: "The Late show with Stephen Colbert will end a 12 year run on CBS in May 2026."

• Colbert’s Statement: During an evening taping, Colbert clarified that the show's ending is not due to a replacement but a strategic decision to phase out the franchise.

  [04:41] Sue Guzman: "I'm not being replaced, he says all of this is just going away."

• Impact on Late-Night Landscape: This development marks a significant shift in late-night television, signaling potential changes in how entertainment networks approach late-night programming.

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6. Inspirational Stories Segment

Spotlight on Community Heroes

• Janice Dean’s Weekly Feature: The episode concluded with an invitation to join Janice Dean every Sunday, where she highlights stories of hope and profiles individuals who make positive impacts within their communities and globally.

  [05:05] Caroline Levitt: "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."

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7. Closing Remarks

• Call to Action: Host Chad Pergram encouraged listeners to engage with Fox News Podcasts by visiting their website.

  [05:15] Chad Pergram: "Listen and follow [e-mail]."

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Conclusion

The Fox News Hourly Update on July 18, 2025, offered listeners a thorough analysis of pressing legislative changes, high-profile legal matters, presidential health disclosures, immigration issues, and significant shifts in the entertainment industry. Through detailed reporting and real-time updates, the podcast provided valuable insights and perspectives on events shaping the national discourse.

Transcript

[Sue Guzman]

Final approval given. I'm Sue Guzman, FOX News. The House has passed a bill that claws back $9 billion from the federal budget, including money for foreign aid and public broadcasting. The vote, 216 to 213. As we hear from Fox's Chad Pergram.

[Chad Pergram]

There were no Democrats who voted for this and there were two Republican nos, Mike Turner, Republican of Ohio, and also Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican of Pennsylvania. Both of them have been big defenders of certain foreign aid programs, in particular some of the aid going to Ukraine. This now goes to President Trump for him to sign. They've not used a maneuver like this to kind of cancel this spending ex post facto in 30 years, but they have been successful. This might be the first of several different rescissions opportunities by the Trump administration to try to claw back some of this money.

[Sue Guzman]

House Speaker Mike Johnson celebrating the passage, saying this isn't the end, it is the beginning. After weeks of criticism from Trump supporters, Republicans and Democrats and President Trump says he's directing Attorney General Pam Bondi ask a court to release all relevant grand jury testimony in the Jeffrey Epstein case comes after Bondi recently announced there were no Epstein client lists. On Thursday, the president said he had no plans to appoint any kind of special counsel in the case.

[Chad Pergram]

While President Trump supports transparency about accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, White House Press secretary Caroline Levitt says, but he doesn't.

[Caroline Levitt]

Like to see Democrats and the mainstream media covering this like it's the biggest story that the American people care about.

[Chad Pergram]

It's not just Democrats demanding answers. After the Justice Department concluded there was no evidence of a client list, some Republicans and conservative influencers have called for a special counsel.

[Caroline Levitt]

The president would not recommend a special prosecutor in the Epstein case. That's how he feels.

[Chad Pergram]

But Levitt says President Trump has directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to release any additional credible information.

[Sue Guzman]

America is listening to FOX News.

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[Sue Guzman]

Results of President Donald Trump's checkup on Thursday, who was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency. It's a common condition in those over 70 that leads to blood pooling in his legs. Fox's Kevin Cork has more from Washington.

[Kevin Cork]

White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt sharing a note from the president's doctor. She laid out details of what appeared to be a fairly thorough exam following reports of lower leg swelling and a bruised hand, which had been masked by makeup. Now, according to his doctors, the president underwent a battery of tests, ultrasounds and a diagnostic vascular study and thankfully, he's doing just fine. As for the lower leg swelling, well, Levitt said there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or any arterial disease.

[Sue Guzman]

An illegal migrant in California accused of faking her own kidnapping by ICE agents. Fox's Marianne Rafferty with the details from Los Angeles.

[Caroline Levitt]

A woman in the country illegally allegedly said she was abducted at a Jack in the box by ICE officers. Police say her daughter then created a GoFundMe page asking for $4,500 and a press conference was even held pleading for her return after local news media reported the story widely. Federal officers had completed a thorough investigation, including a review of surveillance video, and determined the kidnapping claim was not true. Authorities believe 41 year old Uriana Julia Pelaez Calder staged these photos to look like she was mistreated in ICE custody. Calderon was arrested and charged with conspiracy and making false statements.

[Sue Guzman]

The Late show with Stephen Colbert will end a 12 year run on CBS in May 2026. CBS saying it's purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop. In late night Colbert announcing during the evening taping it's the show is franchises ending as well. Quote I'm not being replaced, he says all of this is just going away. I'm Sue Guzman. This is FO news.

[Caroline Levitt]

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.

[Chad Pergram]

Listen and follow [e-mail].