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.

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

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

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.