2AM ET 10/31/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 2AM ET, October 31, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode delivers the latest breaking headlines from the United States and around the world, with a particular focus on the cascading impacts of the prolonged government shutdown, airline travel disruptions, looming food aid suspension, political clashes, ongoing investigations, and notable national events.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Government Shutdown’s Impact on Air Travel

• Air Traffic Controller Shortage Worsening:
  • The government shutdown has entered its 31st day, severely impacting air travel.
  • [00:15] Jeff Paul: Reports staffing issues have jumped dramatically, causing 5% of delays on average this year, but spiking to 44% just this past Sunday.
    • “The FAA has reportedly dealt with 264 instances of staffing problem since the shutdown started, more than four times of what it was last year.”
• Political Response:
  • [00:33] President Trump urges Republicans (via social media) to eliminate the Senate filibuster:
    • “It is now the time for Republicans to play their trump card and go for what is called the nuclear option. Get rid of the filibuster and get rid of it now.”

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2. SNAP Benefits in Jeopardy

• Food Aid Suspension Imminent:
  • [00:49] Sue Guzman: SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans may be suspended in November; federal judge may require emergency funding to continue aid.
  • “Pressure is mounting as SNAP food benefits for 42 million Americans are set to expire this weekend.”
• Partisan Friction:
  • [00:57] Congresswoman Claudia Tenney blames Democratic leadership:
    • “They have traded true leadership for appeasement, responsibility for disorder and principle for political survival. This shutdown is their choice.”
  • [01:27] Hakeem Jeffries, defending Democrats’ stance:
    • “Fighting for the health care of everyday Americans for the poor, the sick and the afflicted for the least, the lost and the left behind is not a partisan issue. It's a moral issue…”

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3. JetBlue Emergency Landing

• Passenger Safety Incident:
  • [01:44] Sue Guzman: Reports on JetBlue flight from Cancun to Newark forced into an emergency landing in Florida after a sudden altitude drop.
  • “JetBlue passengers taken to the hospital after a sudden altitude drop…”

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4. Allegations Against Black Lives Matter

• Federal Investigation:
  • [03:12] Sue Guzman & [03:16] Lisa Licera: The DOJ is investigating whether leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement defrauded donors out of tens of millions collected during 2020 protests.
    • Investigation began during the Biden administration and includes subpoenas and at least one search warrant.
    • The Black Lives Matter Global Network denies being the target of any criminal investigation.

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5. US Nuclear Testing

• Policy Shift:
  • [03:57] Sue Guzman: Suggests the US may resume nuclear weapons testing.
  • [04:01] Unnamed Political Commentator: Notes Trump’s intention to resume nuclear testing immediately to keep pace with other countries:
    • “Just before meeting President Xi, President Trump announced that he instruct to resume testing nuclear weapons for the first time in three decades…”
  • [04:14] Contextualizes that the US has not carried out nuclear tests since 1992, with North Korea being the last state globally to do so in 2017.

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6. Disney Networks Pulled from YouTube TV

• Streaming Dispute:
  • [04:34] Sue Guzman: Disney networks (including ESPN & ABC) have gone dark on Google’s YouTube TV due to stalled contract talks amid pricing disputes.

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7. Refugee Policy Change

• Restriction Announced:
  • [04:57] Sue Guzman: Trump administration restricts US refugee admissions to 7,500, with a new focus on white South Africans—a sharp reduction from previous policy.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jeff Paul on Air Traffic Delay:
  • [00:15] “On average, the Department of Transportation says staffing issues have been responsible for 5% of flight delays. But just this past Sunday, that number skyrocketed to 44%.”
• President Trump’s Call for Action:
  • [00:33] “It is now the time for Republicans to play their trump card and go for what is called the nuclear option. Get rid of the filibuster and get rid of it now.”
• Claudia Tenney Criticizing Democratic Leaders:
  • [00:57] “They have traded true leadership for appeasement, responsibility for disorder and principle for political survival. This shutdown is their choice.”
• Hakeem Jeffries on Health Care:
  • [01:27] “Fighting for the health care of everyday Americans…is not a partisan issue. It's a moral issue. And standing on the side of the health care of everyday Americans is the right place to be.”
• Lisa Licera on BLM Investigation:
  • [03:16] “The Justice Department is investigating whether leaders in the Black Lives Matter movement defrauded donors who contributed tens of millions of dollars during racial justice protests in 2020.”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Airline Travel & Government Shutdown: 00:02 – 00:49
• SNAP Benefits/Political Reactions: 00:49 – 01:44
• JetBlue Emergency Landing: 01:44 – 01:59
• BLM Federal Investigation: 03:12 – 03:57
• US Nuclear Testing Discussion: 03:57 – 04:34
• Disney Networks/YouTube TV Dispute: 04:34 – 04:57
• US Refugee Policy Change: 04:57 – 05:09

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Tone & Style

Direct, urgent, and matter-of-fact, reflecting the rapid-fire, headline-driven style of Fox News Radio’s hourly updates.

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Transcript

[Sue Guzman]

Dire predictions for airline travel. I'm Sue Guzman. FOX News. The air traffic controller shortage is worsening as the government Shutdown enters its 31st day today. Fox's Jeff Paul has more this year.

[Jeff Paul]

On average, the Department of Transportation says staffing issues have been responsible for 5% of flight delays. But just this past Sunday, that number skyrocketed to 44%. The FAA has reportedly dealt with 264 instances of staffing problem since the shutdown started, more than four times of what it was last year. At the same time, President Trump posting on social media writing, quote, it is now the time for Republicans to play their trump card and go for what is called the nuclear option. Get rid of the filibuster and get rid of it now.

[Sue Guzman]

SNAP benefits also expected to be suspended in November, although a federal judge on Thursday appeared ready to force the government to use emergency funds to keep food aid going. Pressure is mounting as SNAP food benefits for 42 million Americans are set to expire this weekend. New York Congresswoman Claudia Tenney putting the blame on Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer. They have traded true leadership for appeasement, responsibility for disorder and principle for political survival. This shutdown is their choice. Jeffries is defending Democrats calls for an extension of Obamacare subsidies.

[Hakeem Jeffries]

Fighting for the health care of everyday Americans for the poor, the sick and the afflicted for the least, the lost and the left behind is not a partisan issue. It's a moral issue. And standing on the side of the health care of everyday Americans is the right place to be.

[Sue Guzman]

JetBlue passengers taken to the hospital after a sudden altitude drop and a flight from Mexico forced an emergency landing in Florida Thursday. The flight from Cancun was traveling to Newark, New Jersey, when the altitude dropped. America's listening to Fox News.

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[Sue Guzman]

Allegations of fraud in the Black Lives Matter movement the Justice.

[Lisa Licera]

Department is investigating whether leaders in the Black Lives Matter movement defrauded donors who contributed tens of millions of dollars during racial justice protests in 2020. That's according to the Associated Press, which reports federal law enforcement has issued subpoenas and at least one search warrant as part of an into the Black Lives Matter Global Network foundation and other black led organizations. Two sources told the AP the investigation began during the Biden administration. The foundation said it took in over $90 million in donations following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. In a statement, it said it's not a target of any federal criminal investigation. The Justice Department has not commented. Lisa Licera, Fox News the United States.

[Sue Guzman]

May soon be reigniting its nuclear testing program.

[Unnamed Political Commentator]

Just before meeting President Xi, President Trump announced that he instruct to resume testing nuclear weapons for the first time in three decades, a process that he says will begin immediately.

[Jeff Paul]

With others doing testing, I think it's.

[Lisa Licera]

Appropriate that we do.

[Unnamed Political Commentator]

Also, the US Military regularly tests missiles that are capable of delivering a nuclear warhead, but it has not detonated the weapons since 1992 due to a global test ban observed by most nuclear powers. The last nuclear weapons test was carried out by North Korea on September 3, 2017.

[Sue Guzman]

Disney's networks, including ESPN and ABC, have gone dark on Google's Pay TV platform YouTube TV. This after contract negotiations reportedly failed. That's according to Variety and the Los Angeles Times. The main sticking point pricing Google supposed as Disney is asking for rate hikes. Disney networks pulled from the platform at midnight Eastern and the Trump administration restricting the number of refugees admitted annually to the US to 7,500. And there will be mostly white South Africans, a dramatic drop after letting hundreds of thousands of people in. I'm Sue Gossman. 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.