2AM ET 09/25/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: 2AM ET, 09/25/2025

Main Theme:
This episode covers major breaking news stories in U.S. politics, criminal investigations, immigration enforcement, international relations, and entertainment. The focus is on potential legal action against James Comey, violence linked to ICE immigration controversy, shifting U.S. policy on Ukraine and Russia, looming government shutdown concerns, and an update from the world of late-night television.

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1. Potential Perjury Indictment for Former FBI Director James Comey

[00:03–00:52]

• Overview:
  The Department of Justice (DOJ) may soon ask a grand jury in Virginia to indict James Comey, the former FBI Director, for perjury. The charge relates to his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2020. The move comes as the statute of limitations is about to expire.

• Key Details:

  • The DOJ is not commenting, citing the secrecy of grand jury proceedings.
  • The five-year statute of limitations for lying to Congress runs out September 30, 2025.
  • The review centers on whether Comey testified truthfully about his role in the FBI’s probe into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

• Quote:

  • David Spunt: “We are told that the statute of limitations for lying to Congress is five years, and authorities are looking at bringing a charge relating to Comey's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 30, 2020.” [00:17]

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2. Violence at Dallas ICE Facility and Political Rhetoric Concerns

[00:52–01:54]

• Overview:
  A shooting at a Dallas ICE detention facility left at least one person dead and three detainees injured. The gunman, identified as Joshua John of Oklahoma, left anti-ICE messages, intensifying concerns about incendiary political rhetoric.

• Key Details:

  • The shooter, Joshua John, acted alone and killed himself after the incident.
  • Three detainees were shot; no ICE agents were harmed.
  • Authorities and ICE officials urge reducing provocative online and public statements.

• Quote:

  • Josh Johnson (ICE Dallas Acting Field Director): “The takeaway from all of this is that the rhetoric has to stop. There are people out there who are seeing what is being placed online and they're coming in. They're doing acts of violence.” [01:39]

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3. President Trump’s New Stance on Ukraine and Russia

[03:18–04:08]

• Overview:
  President Trump expresses a newly confident stance that Ukraine can reclaim territory from Russia — a notable shift from his previous, more doubtful position. U.S. diplomatic and economic pressure on Russia continues to rise as European allies face calls to stop buying Russian oil.

• Key Details:

  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio privately reiterates U.S. support for Ukrainian territorial integrity at the UN.
  • President Trump now views Russia’s military as weaker (“paper tiger”), according to a Truth Social post.
  • The administration is prepared to ramp up sanctions, pending Europe’s reduction in Russian oil dependency.

• Quote:

  • Jackie Heinrich: “Trump says after taking a hard look at the military and economic position Russia is in, suggesting in a Truth Social post the people of Russia have no idea what's really going on with the war and calling Russia's military a paper tiger.” [03:31]

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4. Looming Partial Government Shutdown and Federal Job Cuts

[04:08–04:54]

• Overview:
  Federal agencies are bracing for a possible government shutdown with the September 30 deadline approaching. Unlike prior shutdown threats, the latest White House memo signals some job cuts could be permanent.

• Key Details:

  • Agencies instructed to identify programs losing funding as of October 1st.
  • Workers may not simply be furloughed — some may be permanently laid off.
  • Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticizes the move as political intimidation.

• Quote:

  • Jill Nadeau: “Workers wouldn't just be furloughed for however long a shutdown may last, they'd be gone permanently.” [04:17]
  • Chuck Schumer (statement paraphrased by Jill Nadeau): “Donald Trump's been firing federal workers since day one, not to govern, but to scare.” [04:40]

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5. Entertainment Headline: Jimmy Kimmel Breaks Monologue Viewership Records

[04:54–05:16]

• Overview:
  Despite regional TV blackouts, Jimmy Kimmel’s return monologue draws massive television and online audiences.

• Key Details:

  • The ABC broadcast was watched by 6.3 million viewers.
  • The YouTube video recorded over 14 million views in 15 hours—an all-time record for the program.

• Quote:

  • Sue Guzman: “The show's official YouTube account has clocked the monologue video at at least 14 million views in 15 hours. That's a record for Jimmy Kimmel Live Monologue video.” [05:01]

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Notable Moments & Quotes

• On DOJ secrecy and legal deadlines:
  • David Spunt: “The Justice Department is declining to comment in this case altogether as grand jury information is secretive in the United States.” [00:17]
• On political rhetoric and violence:
  • Josh Johnson (ICE Dallas Acting Field Director): “The takeaway from all of this is that the rhetoric has to stop.” [01:39]
• On change in U.S. stance on Ukraine:
  • Jackie Heinrich: “President Trump's new belief that Ukraine is positioned to fight and win back all of its territory is a 180 from this you don't have the cards…” [03:31]
• On government layoffs:
  • Jill Nadeau: “Workers wouldn't just be furloughed... they'd be gone permanently.” [04:17]

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Timestamps Overview

• [00:03] Indictment news: James Comey investigation
• [00:52] ICE facility shooting and call for civility
• [03:18] Trump’s Ukraine policy pivot, pressure on NATO and Russia
• [04:08] Looming shutdown, potential permanent layoffs
• [04:54] Jimmy Kimmel's record-breaking monologue

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Conclusion:
This Fox News Hourly Update provides a rapid-fire review of the day’s major legal, political, and social updates, featuring high-stakes developments in government, foreign affairs, and media. The tone remains direct and immediate, aiming to inform listeners of key national events and controversies as they unfold.

Transcript

[Sue Guzman]

A perjury indictment under consideration. I'm Sue Guzman, FOX News. Prosecutors are expected to ask a grand jury to indict former FBI Director James Comey in Virginia in the next few days. Fox's David Spunt has more.

[David Spunt]

The Justice Department is declining to comment in this case altogether as grand jury information is secretive in the United States. We are told that the statute of limitations for lying to to Congress is five years and authorities are looking at bringing a charge relating to Comey's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 30, 2020. September 30, 2025 is early next week, so the statute of limitations is running out for a charge to be brought.

[Sue Guzman]

Comey served as FBI director from 2013 until President Trump fired him in 2017. He he has maintained he was truthful under oath. President Trump has frequently criticized Comey's handling of the FBI probe into alleged Russian interference in his 2016 presidential campaign. There are calls to tone down political rhetoric against ICE enforcement efforts after a gunman opened fire at a detention facility in Dallas Wednesday, leaving at least one person dead. Fox's Jeff Manasseo reports the investigation is.

[Josh Johnson]

Ongoing, but what we know now is 29 year old Joshua John of Oklahoma is ID'd as the gunman who the FBI with anti ICE messages on bullet casings shot indiscriminately onto the Dallas ICE facility, hitting three detainees, no agents before killing himself.

The takeaway from all of this is that the rhetoric has to stop. There are people out there who are seeing what is being placed online and they're coming in. They're doing acts of violence.

ICE Dallas Acting Field Director Josh Johnson.

[Sue Guzman]

America is listening to FOX News.

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[Sue Guzman]

President Trump says he is confident Ukraine can take back land captured by Russia while the administration pushes NATO not to buy oil from Russia. The comments representing a change in his previous stance as we hear from Fox's.

[Jackie Heinrich]

Jackie Heinrich Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the UN reiterating in private to his Russian counter counterpart what the administration is broadcasting to the world. President Trump's new belief that Ukraine is positioned to fight and win back all of its territory is a 180 from this you don't have the cards and it came about, trump says after taking a hard look at the military and economic position Russia is in, suggesting in a truth social post the people of Russia have no idea what's really going on with the war and calling Russia's military a paper tiger. Trump's energy secretary says the US Is ready to go all in on sanctions as soon as Europe is off Russian.

[Sue Guzman]

Oil plan with President Trump and Democrats as the September 30 deadline looms for a partial government shutdown. Fox's Jill Nadeau has more from Washington.

[Jill Nadeau]

The White House's Office of Management and Budget sent out a memo saying agencies need to have ready reduction in force plans as the federal government gets closer to a partial shutdown. Agencies were told to identify programs that'll lose funding October 1st. Workers wouldn't just be furloughed for however long a shutdown may last, they'd be gone permanently. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a statement saying this is an attempt at intimidation. Donald Trump's been firing federal workers since day one, not to govern, but to scare. In Washington, Jill NATO Fox News and.

[Sue Guzman]

Jimmy Kimmel's return monologue on his late night show on ABC Tuesday night, turns out was watched by nearly 6.3 million viewers on TV. This despite blackouts in many cities. Shows official YouTube account has clocked the monologue video at at least 14 million views in 15 hours. That's a record for Jimmy Kimmel Live Monologue video Sue Guzman this is Fox News.

[Josh Johnson]

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