2AM ET 09/28/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 2AM ET 09/28/2025 Newscast

Host: Debra Valentine (FOX News Podcasts)
Date: September 28, 2025
Main Theme:
A fast-paced update on major national news, including a tragic mass shooting in North Carolina, deadly flash floods in Arizona, looming federal government shutdown, National Guard deployments, and a developing tropical storm threatening the southeastern U.S.

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Key Stories and Discussion Points

1. Mass Shooting in Southport, North Carolina

Timestamps: 00:02 – 00:38

• Incident: At least three dead and eight injured following a shooting at the Southport yacht basin’s American Fish Company restaurant.
• Details:
  • The gunman arrived by boat, opened fire, then fled.
  • A manhunt is ongoing and a person of interest is being questioned.
• Location: Close to the South Carolina border.
• Ongoing Unknowns: Motive for the attack and the conditions of the injured remain unclear.

Notable Quotes:

• "A manhunt is currently underway after a gunman opened fire on a dockside restaurant... A boat pulled up to the restaurant, fired multiple shots, and took off." — Marianne Rafferty [00:15]

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2. Arizona Flash Floods and Community Response

Timestamps: 00:38 – 01:23

• Disaster: Flash floods in Arizona caused at least four fatalities and widespread damage.
• Community Impact: Cars swept away; homes and businesses damaged.
• Response:
  • Community members are helping each other clean up.
  • Rescue teams and trained dogs are searching for survivors and possible victims.
• Government Action: Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs authorized the Arizona National Guard for disaster response.

Notable Quotes:

• "The one good thing we've seen out here is really the community coming together... they're all banding together to clean up their neighbors' homes." — Irene Snyder [00:52]

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3. Federal Response: National Guard Mobilizations

Timestamps: 01:23 – 01:53

• Arizona: National Guard deployed to assist in the aftermath of flash floods.
• Portland, Oregon:
  • President Trump announced the deployment of National Guard troops to combat crime and illegal migration.
  • Local leaders, including Democratic Mayor Keith Wilson, express skepticism about federal involvement.

Notable Quotes:

• "This is happening against a national backdrop of a federal government that may not even be open in a week's time. This federal mobilization is a distraction." — Portland Mayor Keith Wilson [01:40]

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4. Looming Federal Government Shutdown

Timestamps: 02:32 – 03:18

• Deadline Approaching: Congress must pass funding; otherwise, a shutdown will occur.
• Potential Impacts:
  • Millions of federal workers could be furloughed.
  • Closure of national parks and museums, suspension of passport processing.
  • Essential personnel (military, intelligence, air traffic controllers, food safety) keep working, but won’t be paid until it ends.
  • Postal Service and Social Security payments continue.
• Leadership Meeting: President Trump and congressional leaders set to meet at the White House.

Notable Quotes:

• "The Trump administration could furlough millions of federal workers. That's because agencies lack direction from Congress on how to spend money." — Chad Pergram [02:41]

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5. Severe Weather: Tropical Storm Threat for Southeast

Timestamps: 03:18 – 04:18

• System: Tropical Depression #9 could become Tropical Storm Imelda.
• Track: Flared up between Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas; expected to parallel Florida’s coast with uncertain landfall.
• Impacts:
  • Tropical storm watches from north of Palm Beach through Daytona Beach.
  • Potential for wind gusts 60–70 mph.
  • Ongoing monitoring as the forecast could shift.

Notable Quotes:

• "We're expecting wind gusts probably 60 to 70 miles an hour, but it's all depending on what happens in the next several days." — Mike Seidel [03:36]

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Memorable Moments & Tone

• The episode maintains a brisk, urgent tone, providing concise but detailed coverage of unfolding crises.
• Community resilience in Arizona stands out as a rare note of optimism amid otherwise grim stories.
• Tension between federal and local responses is highlighted, both in disaster and crime response, as well as in looming governmental dysfunction.

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Important Timestamps

• North Carolina Mass Shooting: 00:02 – 00:38
• Arizona Floods/Community Response: 00:38 – 01:23
• National Guard Deployment/Portland Reaction: 01:23 – 01:53
• Government Shutdown Preview: 02:32 – 03:18
• Tropical Storm Update: 03:18 – 04:18

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This rapid-fire newscast delivers the essentials on breaking U.S. headlines, highlighting public safety crises, disaster recovery, political uncertainty, and natural threats, all with contributions from FOX’s field reporters and local officials.

Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

This is a FOX News alert. I'm Debra Valentine. A mass shooting in North Carolina. At least three people are dead and eight others hurt following a shooting at the Southport yacht basin. Fox's Marianne Rafferty.

[Marianne Rafferty]

A manhunt is currently underway after a gunman opened fire on a dockside restaurant in Southport, North Carolina. At least three people were killed. Eight others are hurt. This happened around 9:30 at the American Fish Company. That's about 40 miles of the South Carolina border. Police say a boat pulled up to the restaurant, fired multiple shots and took off. A person of interest is being questioned.

[Debra Valentine]

A motive and the condition of the injured is unknown. The cleanup is getting started in Arizona after flash floods there late Friday left at least four people dead. Fox 10 Phoenix's Irene Snyder has more.

[Irene Snyder]

Remarkable to see all the damage out here. But the one good thing I want to say, obviously it's a lot of damage. You know, people have been hurt. We've seen cars swept away in washes. But the good thing we've seen out here is really the community coming together. We talked to people who said they're all banding together to clean up their neighbors homes to help local businesses that have been affected. We've seen rescue teams, we've seen trained dogs out here trying to find anyone who might need help. Unfortunately, in case they're looking for any bodies too, is what we've heard from them as well.

[Debra Valentine]

Arizona's Governor Katie Hobbs has authorized the rapid deployment of the Arizona National Guard to deal with the disaster. President Trump Saturday announced he'll deploy National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon to combat crime and illegal migration. Democratic Mayor Keith Wilson reacted to the president's plans.

[Keith Wilson]

This is happening against a national backdrop of a federal government that may not even be open in a week's time. This federal mobilization is a distraction.

[Debra Valentine]

America's listening to FOX News.

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[Debra Valentine]

The deadline to approve funding for the federal government is looming. Fox's Chad Pergrim explains from Capitol Hill how Americans could be impacted by a federal government shutdown.

[Keith Wilson]

The Trump administration could furlough millions of federal workers. That's because agencies lack direction from Congress on how to spend money. National parks and Smithsonian museums close, passport applications are suspended. Yet many other federal employees are deemed essential. That includes the military and those who work in national security and intelligence. Air traffic controllers remain on the job. Food safety inspections continue. However, those federal workers still heading into the office don't get paid until the shutdown ceases. The Postal Service continues to deliver the mail, and the government will still cut Social Security checks.

[Debra Valentine]

President Donald Trump and the four congressional leaders plan to meet on Monday at the White House to discuss an agreement to fund the federal government. The southeastern US Is bracing for a tropical storm that's brewing off the Atlantic coast. Fox Weather's Mike Seidel has details from Folly Beach, South Carolina.

[Mike Seidel]

Between Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, a big cluster of thunderstorms has flared up. It is now officially Tropical Depression number nine and will likely become Tropical Storm Imelda. It's going to be moving very slowly paralleling the Florida coast. There are now tropical storm watches up for parts of the Florida coast from north of Palm beach up through the Space coast and Daytona Beach. That's because they could have impacts storm force winds of 39 miles an hour or higher. But in the long term, the question is how long does it stall out and when does it make its turn? The trend over the past couple of days has been that it's going to not make landfall, which is a good thing at this point. We're expecting wind gusts probably 60 to 70 miles an hour, but it's all depending on what happens in the next several days.

[Debra Valentine]

The National Hurricane center expects that the system will develop into a tropical storm overnight into Sunday Morning. I'm Debra Galentine. This is Fox News.

[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.