2AM ET 07/26/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update - 2AM ET 07/26/2025

Release Date: July 26, 2025
Host: Carmen Roberts
Podcast: Fox News Hourly Update

The latest episode of the Fox News Hourly Update podcast, hosted by Carmen Roberts, delivers a comprehensive roundup of significant national and international news, legal developments, and political discourse. This detailed summary captures all key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode, complete with notable quotes and timestamps for context.

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Ghislaine Maxwell's Legal Proceedings

The episode opens with an update on Ghislaine Maxwell, a central figure in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

• Carmen Roberts [00:02]: "She's hoping for a Trump pardon. I'm Carmen Roberts. Fox News."

  Maxwell, convicted in 2021 for her role in trafficking underage girls alongside Jeffrey Epstein, is serving a 20-year sentence in Tallahassee. Her attorney, David Oscar Marcus, asserts her unfair treatment and mentions an appeal to the Supreme Court.

• Todd Blanche [00:15]: "We don't know how it's going to play out. We just know that this was the first opportunity she's ever been given to answer questions about what happened and so the truth will come out about what happened with Mr. Epstein and she's the person who's answering those questions."

• David Oscar Marcus [00:33]: "Maxwell's attorney David Oscar Marcus telling reporters she's been treated unfairly and she's appealing her case to the Supreme Court."

Roberts also references the tragic death of Jeffrey Epstein.

• Carmen Roberts [00:50]: "Epstein died in 2019 by suicide in a New York jail as he awaited trial."

Donald Trump's Supreme Court Victory and Political Maneuvering

The discussion shifts to former President Donald Trump and his recent Supreme Court victory, which has implications for both him and former President Barack Obama.

• Carmen Roberts [00:50]: "President faced questions about Maxwell as he arrived in Scotland for a working vacation. He told reporters it's too early to talk pardon. He also admitted that one of his Supreme Court victories could help former President Obama."

• Donald Trump [01:09]: "Trump's focus has been on former President Obama."

• Donald Trump [01:12]: "Obama owes me big."

Trump acknowledges his Supreme Court win that grants broad immunity to presidents for official acts, potentially shielding Obama from new allegations.

• Donald Trump [01:14]: "Trump acknowledging his own Supreme Court win that grants broad immunity to presidents for official acts would also shield Obama from new allegations leveled by DNI Tulsi Gabbard that Obama officials manipulated intelligence about 2016 Russian election interference to harm Trump immunity ruling."

A Fox News correspondent adds context to the political implications.

• Fox News Correspondent [01:31]: "But it doesn't help the people around him at all."

Trump addresses internal Republican pressures regarding a special counsel.

• Donald Trump [01:33]: "Despite calls from some Republicans for a special counsel in that probe, the White House agreeing with DOJ that it's unnecessary."

Israeli-Palestinian Ceasefire Talks Under Review

Carmen Roberts reports on the evolving dynamics of ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

• Carmen Roberts [01:40]: "Fox's Jackie Heinrich, traveling with the president and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, says his government is considering alternative options to ceasefire talks with Hamas after Israel and the US Recall their negotiating teams from Qatar. America is listening to Fox News."

Sentencing of Lori Vallow Debel

The podcast covers the sentencing of Lori Vallow Debel, a figure associated with doomsday beliefs and convicted of multiple crimes.

• Carmen Roberts [03:07]: "The Idaho mother with doomsday beliefs who became a convicted killer is sentenced one last time in Arizona."

• Lisa Brady [03:14]: "Lori Valo Debel was convicted in two murder conspiracy cases for plotting to kill her estranged husband who was killed by her brother and the ex-husband of a relative who survived. She's sentenced to life in prison but is already serving life for killing two of her children and conspiring to kill her current husband's then-wife. Valo Debel says she was wrongly convicted and that the four people who died forgive her."

Debel offers a final statement from prison.

• Lori Vallow Debel [03:36]: "Heaven is a very busy and happy place."

Brady highlights Debel's courtroom behavior and defense.

• Lisa Brady [03:39]: "She represented herself in the Arizona trials, also arguing that her brother had acted in self-defense."

Congressman George Santos Sentenced and Congressional Expulsion

Carmen Roberts provides an update on Congressman George Santos of New York.

• Carmen Roberts [03:47]: "Congressman George Santos of New York reported to federal prison Friday to begin serving a more than seven-year sentence. Santos pleaded guilty to a laundry list of federal charges including wire fraud and identity theft, and was expelled from Congress."

Delay in Confirmation of Trump Nominees

The episode delves into the political standoff surrounding President Trump's nominees awaiting Senate confirmation.

• Fox News Correspondent [04:06]: "The House checking out early for its summer recess, but the Senate could stick around to confirm President Trump's nominees. President Trump imploring Senate Republicans to, quote, cancel August recess and long weekends to confirm nominees. More than 130 Trump nominees await confirmation ranging from assistant Cabinet secretaries to ambassadors. Republicans accused Democrats of hamstringing the president's picks by bleeding the clock on each nominee. Democrats aren't ready to cede their leverage."

Comic Con Spotlight: Tron Franchise

Shifting to entertainment, Carmen Roberts covers the latest from Comic Con in San Diego, focusing on the Tron franchise.

• Carmen Roberts [04:38]: "Fox's chat program on Capitol Hill and the Grid took over Comic Con Friday in San Diego, bringing in the stars of the new film Tron."

A memorable line from the Tron stars:

• Lori Vallow Debel [04:46]: "Ares, I would like you to meet Ares, the ultimate soldier."

Roberts concludes the segment with insights into the upcoming Tron movie.

• Carmen Roberts [04:51]: "The stars unveiled footage and revealed the story behind the franchise's third movie. I'm Carmen Roberts. This is FOX NEWS."

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Conclusion:

The episode effectively navigates through a range of topics, from high-profile legal cases and political maneuvering to international diplomacy and entertainment news. Notable quotes and timestamps provide listeners with precise references to significant statements made during the broadcast.

Note: Advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections have been excluded from this summary as per instructions.

Transcript

[Carmen Roberts]

She's hoping for a Trump pardon. I'm Carmen Roberts. Fox News. Ghislaine Maxwell in prison for helping the late Jeffrey Epstein traffic underage girls, answered questions from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche for a second day.

[Todd Blanche]

We don't know how it's going to play out. We just know that this was the first opportunity she's ever been given to answer questions about what happened and so the truth will come out about what happened with Mr. Epstein and she's the person who's answering those questions.

[David Oscar Marcus]

Maxwell's attorney David Oscar Marcus telling reporters she's been treated unfairly and she's appealing her case to the Supreme Court. Maxwell is serving a 20 year prison sentence in Tallahassee after being convicted in 2021 for her role in helping late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein traffic and abuse underage girls.

[Carmen Roberts]

Fox's Kristen Goodwin Epstein died in 2019 by suicide in a New York jail as he awaited trial. President faced questions about Maxwell as he arrived in Scotland for a working vacation. He told reporters it's too early to talk pardon. He also admitted that one of his Supreme Court victories could help former President Obama.

[Donald Trump]

Trump's focus has been on former President Obama.

Obama owes me big.

Trump acknowledging his own Supreme Court win that grants broad immunity to presidents for official acts would also shield Obama from new allegations leveled by DNI Tulsi Gabbard that Obama officials manipulated intelligence about 2016 Russian election interference to harm Trump immunity ruling.

[Fox News Correspondent]

But it doesn't help the people around him at all.

[Donald Trump]

Despite calls from some Republicans for a special counsel in that probe, the White House agreeing with DOJ that it's unnecessary.

[Carmen Roberts]

Fox's Jackie Heinrich, traveling with the president and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, says his government is considering alternative options to cease fire talks with Hamas after Israel and the US Recall their negotiating teams from Qatar. America is listening to Fox News.

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[Carmen Roberts]

The Idaho mother with doomsday beliefs who became a convicted killer is sentenced one last time in Arizona.

[Lisa Brady]

Lori Valo Debel was convicted in two murder conspiracy cases for plotting to kill her estranged husband who was killed by her brother and the ex husband of a relative who survived. She's sentenced to life in prison but is already serving life for killing two of her children and conspiring to kill her current husband's then wife. Valo Debel says she was wrongly convicted and that the four people who died forgive her.

[Lori Vallow Debel]

Heaven is a very busy and happy place.

[Lisa Brady]

She represented herself in the Arizona trials, also arguing that her brother had acted in self defense. Lisa Brady, FOX News Disgraced former GOP.

[Carmen Roberts]

Congressman George Santos of New York reported to federal prison Friday to begin serving a more than seven year sentence. Santos pleaded guilty to a laundry list of federal charges including wire fraud and identity theft, and was expelled from Congress. More than 130 Trump nominees are still waiting for Senate confirmation.

[Fox News Correspondent]

The House checking out early for its summer recess, but the Senate could stick around to confirm President Trump's nominees. President Trump imploring Senate Republicans to, quote, cancel August recess and long weekends to confirm nominees. More than 130 Trump nominees await confirmation ranging from assistant Cabinet secretaries to ambassadors. Republicans accused Democrats of hamstringing the president's picks by bleeding the clock on each nominee. Democrats aren't ready to cede their leverage.

[Carmen Roberts]

Fox's chat program on Capitol Hill and the Grid took over Comic Con Friday in San Diego, bringing in the stars of the new film Tron.

[Lori Vallow Debel]

Ares, I would like you to meet Ares, the ultimate soldier.

[Carmen Roberts]

The stars unveiled footage and revealed the story behind the franchise's third movie. I'm Carmen Roberts. This is FOX NEWS.

[Donald Trump]

From the FOX News Podcasts Network.

[Kennedy]

Hey there, it's me, Kennedy. Make sure to check out my podcast, kennedy Saves the World. It is five days a week, every week. Download and listen@fox newspodcast.com or wherever you listen to your favorite podcast.