2AM ET 09/13/2025 Newscast

Summary

---

Fox News Hourly Update

Episode: 2AM ET 09/13/2025 Newscast

Host: Ted Lindner
Date: September 13, 2025

---

Episode Overview

This Fox News Hourly Update brings listeners up to speed on major national stories, including the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, updates on high-profile court cases, the latest insights from a new Fox News poll on political and economic attitudes, and law enforcement news from around the country. Key voices include host Ted Lindner and reporters Jonathan Sery, Kristin Goodwin, and Tom Graham.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Assassination of Charlie Kirk

• Charlie Kirk, conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated on a Utah college campus at age 31.
  • Political leaders from both parties have expressed condolences.
  • Erica Kirk, Charlie’s widow, expressed gratitude specifically to Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife for their support and for arranging Kirk’s return to Arizona.
• Quote (Erica Kirk, 00:30):

  "I want to thank my husband's dear friend Vice President Vance and his phenomenal wife Usha for their love and support. You guys honored my husband so well bringing him home."

• Suspect: 22-year-old Tyler Robinson is in custody in connection with the shooting.

2. Presidential Assassination Attempt Trial

• Trial for Ryan Ruth, accused of trying to assassinate President Trump at his golf course in Florida (September prior), is underway.
  • Ruth is representing himself, which has led to courtroom disruptions.
  • Judge Eileen Cannon is regularly intervening when Ruth goes off-topic.
  • Prosecution has struggled to proceed smoothly, occasionally running out of available witnesses, leading to shorter court days.
  • Ruth’s daughter spoke about his health challenges and defense strategy.
    • Quote (Sarah Ruth, 01:33):

      "I think he's doing pretty good considering he's sick."

  • Trial will resume next week; prosecution may rest its case by Thursday.

3. Fox News Poll: Public Opinion on Trump, Congress, Capitalism

• Recent Fox News poll of over 1,000 US voters:
  • President Trump’s Approval: 46% approve, 54% disapprove (overall job).
  • Border Security: Highest approval area for Trump at 57%.
  • Crime/Public Safety: 50% approve of Trump’s handling.
  • Capitalism vs. Socialism: 53% favorable on capitalism, 27% on socialism.
  • Taxes on the Wealthy:
    • 73% support higher taxes to strengthen social programs.
    • 64% support higher taxes to distribute wealth to the less fortunate.
    • Only 47% support higher taxes so that "nobody gets to be too rich."
  • Quote (Kristin Goodwin, 03:31):

    "53% of those polled say they have a favorable opinion of capitalism, while 27% have a favorable view of socialism."

4. ICE Shooting in Suburban Chicago

• Incident in Franklin Park, Illinois:
  • An ICE officer shot and killed Silverio Villegas Gonzalez after being hit and dragged by a car during a traffic stop.
  • Gonzalez was reportedly in the U.S. illegally and had a history of reckless driving.
  • Event occurred as part of "Operation Midway Blitz," targeting sanctuary policies.
  • Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker calls for full transparency.
  • Quote (Tom Graham, 04:19):

    "The deadly encounter comes less than a week into the Trump administration's operation labeled Midway Blitz, targeting sanctuary policies."

5. Crime Crackdown in Memphis, Tennessee

• President Trump refers to Memphis as "deeply troubled" and promises to enact change as done in Washington, D.C.
• Memphis Mayor Paul Young is supportive of federal anti-crime efforts but opposes deploying the National Guard.
  • Emphasizes that the decision is not entirely his to make.
  • Quote (Mayor Paul Young, 04:56):

    "I want to be clear, I did not ask for the National Guard, and I don't think it's the way to drive down crime."

  • State Governor reportedly also content with federal focus, but Mayor pushes back on claims of full support for Trump's methods.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Erica Kirk thanks Vice President Vance (00:30)
• Sarah Ruth defends her father's performance in court despite illness (01:33)
• Poll on Capitalism and Socialism (03:31)
• ICE shooting and Illinois Governor's call for transparency (04:19)
• Memphis Mayor's clear stance on the National Guard (04:56)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:03 — Remembering Charlie Kirk and reactions from Turning Point USA
• 01:06 — Update on President Trump assassination attempt trial
• 03:10 — Fox News poll results on public attitudes
• 04:00 — ICE shooting in suburban Chicago (Franklin Park)
• 04:35 — Crime crackdown in Memphis, city's and mayor's response

---

Conclusion

This hourly newscast rapidly covers headline stories of major national impact, from the tragedy of Charlie Kirk’s assassination and high-profile court proceedings to fresh polling data on American attitudes and fast-moving law enforcement stories. Through interview clips and polling snapshots, the episode provides a focused summary of America's political and social pulse as of September 2025.

---

Transcript

[Ted Lindner]

Remembering Charlie Kirk. I'm Ted Lindner. FOX News Political leaders from both parties mourning the loss of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on the Utah college campus at the age of 31 earlier this week. Speaking from the headquarters of Kirk's organization, Turning Point USA, Friday night, his widow, Erica Kirk thanked Vice President J.D. vance for flying her husband's casket home to Arizona on Air Force Two. I want to thank my husband's dear friend Vice President Vance and his phenomenal wife Usha for their love and support. You guys honored my husband so well bringing him home. Turning Point usa, a group dedicated to promoting conservative politics among high school and college students. The suspect, 22 year old Tyler Robinson, now in custody in connection to the shooting. The trial of the man accused of trying to assassinate President Trump at his golf course last September in Florida is underway. Fox's Jonathan Sery's got more on this from Fort Pierce, Florida.

[Jonathan Sery]

Against the recommendation of the court, Ryan Ruth is representing himself with mixed results. Whenever he goes off on tangents unrelated to the case. Judge Eileen Cannon intervenes, as she did during Ruth's rambling opening statement on Thursday. But the defendant's cross examinations of prosecution witnesses have been so brief and sometimes non existent, court adjourned a couple hours early because the prosecution had simply run out of witnesses available today. Ruth's daughter Sarah, who attended the trial all week, told a reporter, I think he's doing pretty good considering he's sick. The defendant has been coughing and wiping his nose earlier, complaining about not getting enough sleep while he's being held in protective custody.

[Ted Lindner]

That trial resumes next week, the prosecution expecting to rest its case by Thursday. America's listening to Fox.

[NetSuite Oracle Advertiser]

What does the future hold for business? Ask nine experts and you'll get 10 answers. Bull market, bear market, Inflation's up or down. Can someone please invent a crystal ball? Until then, over 42,000 businesses have future proofed their business with NetSuite by Oracle, the number one AI Cloud ERP, bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR into one fluid platform with one unified business management suite. There's one source of truth giving you the visibility and control you need to make quick decisions. With real time insights and forecasting, you're peering into the future with actionable data. When you're closing the books in days, not weeks, you're spending less time looking backwards and more time on what's next. Whether your company is earning millions or even hundreds of millions, NetSuite helps you respond to immediate challenges and seize your biggest opportunities. Speaking of opportunity, download the CFO UFOs Guide to AI and Machine Learning at netsuite.com quick the guide is free to you at netsuite.com qwik netsuite.com quick.

[Ted Lindner]

A Fox News poll sheds light on what Americans think of President Trump, congressional lawmakers and capitalism. Fox's Kristin Goodwin with more 46% of.

[Kristin Goodwin]

Over 1,000 US voters surveyed in a Fox News poll say they approve of the job President Trump is doing, 54% disapproving. The president's highest approval ratings are on his handling of border security, with 57% approving, followed by crime and public safety at 50%. 53% of those polled say they have a favorable opinion of capitalism, while 27% have a favorable view of socialism. But when asked if the government should increase taxes on the wealthiest Americans, 73% say they'd support this if it meant strengthening the country's social programs, 64% if it means spreading the wealth to those who are less fortunate. However, only 47% say they'd support this so that nobody gets to be too rich. Kristin Goodwin, FOX News A suspect's dead.

[Ted Lindner]

After being shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in suburban Chicago.

[Tom Graham]

An ICE officer was hit and dragged by a car following a traffic stop in Franklin Park Friday morning. Homeland Security says the officer feared for his life, so he opened fire, killing Silverio Villegas Gonzalez. Investigators say he was in the US Illegally and had a history of reckless driving. The deadly encounter comes less than a week into the Trump administration's operation labeled Midway Blitz, targeting sanctuary policies. Illinois Governor J.B. pritzker says he's demanding full transparency. Tom Graham, Fox News, Memphis.

[Ted Lindner]

Tennessee's mayor says he'll support President Trump's federal crackdown on crime, but doesn't want the National Guard.

[Kristin Goodwin]

President Trump calls Memphis deeply troubled and says he'll fix it, just like the recent crime crackdown in Washington, D.C. the mayor is happy.

[Tom Graham]

He's a Democrat mayor. The mayor is happy. And the governor. Tennessee the governor's happy.

[Kristin Goodwin]

Memphis Mayor Paul Young calls that an overstatement.

[Jonathan Sery]

I want to be clear, I did.

[NetSuite Oracle Advertiser]

Not ask for the National Guard, and.

[Tom Graham]

I don't think it's the way to drive down crime.

[Kristin Goodwin]

But the mayor says it's not his call.

[Ted Lindner]

And that's fox's Lisa Brady. I'm Ted Lindner.

[Tom Graham]

This is It's Wiltang 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.