2PM ET 07/13/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 2PM ET, July 13, 2025

Hosted by Paul Stevens, this episode of the Fox News Hourly Update delivers comprehensive coverage of national security issues, natural disasters, political developments, and significant events involving the President.

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1. Anniversary of the Butler Rally Attack and Security Lapses

Paul Stevens opens the newscast by commemorating the one-year anniversary of the harrowing incident at President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. During the rally, President Trump was forcibly removed by Secret Service agents after being grazed by a bullet, an event that left the nation on edge.

Alexis McAdams provides an in-depth analysis of the security failures that contributed to the tragedy. She references a new Government Accountability Office report released by Senator Chuck Grassley, highlighting critical missteps by the Secret Service.

"There were major mistakes made at the Butler rally. Like the Secret Service knew Trump's life was in danger 10 days before he walked out on the stage in Butler, but he failed to share that information with their own team on the ground. It was really just kind of the higher ups that knew. They didn't tell the agents who were working the rally."
— Alexis McAdams [00:19]

McAdams emphasizes that while certain security measures, such as snipers on rooftops, were in place, many attendees were left vulnerable, described poignantly by a victim’s family as "just sitting ducks." The report underscores the lack of effective communication within the Secret Service, which ultimately compromised the safety of both the President and the rally participants.

2. Texas Flooding: Search Efforts Suspended Amid Ongoing Threats

Gernall Scott transitions to the devastating floods that struck Texas on July 4th, a disaster exacerbated by relentless rainfall. The Guadalupe River surged by 26 feet in less than an hour, leading to catastrophic flooding that claimed numerous lives, including at least 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic.

"The decision came as responders feared more rain in the forecast would cause water levels to rise again during the flooding July 4. The Guadalupe river rose 26ft in less than one hour, leading to the deadly and destructive flooding."
— Gernall Scott [01:11]

Due to forecasts predicting additional heavy rains, authorities have suspended search and rescue operations, citing safety concerns. The impact on infrastructure is significant, with secondary roads inundated and critical bridges submerged, hindering relief efforts.

Paul Stevens highlights the community’s response, noting that viewers and listeners have generously contributed to the Kerr County Relief Fund, raising an impressive $5 million to support those affected by the floods.

"Initial donation to the Kerr County Relief Fund, viewers and listeners have stepped up together. $5 million has been raised. America's listening to Fox News."
— Paul Stevens [01:47]

3. President Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein File Controversy

Shifting to political news, Chan Lee Painter reports on President Trump’s defense of Attorney General Pam Bondi. Amid tensions between Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, some Trump supporters have called for Bondi’s resignation.

"The president is stepping in to defend his Attorney General Pam Bondi as doing, quote, a fantastic job after she came under fire from some Trump supporters over the Department of Justice's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files."
— Chan Lee Painter [02:43]

President Trump took to social media to assert Bondi’s competence, stating:

"One year ago our country was dead. Now it's the hottest country anywhere in the world. Let's keep it that way and not waste time and energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about."
— President Donald Trump [02:43]

Painter explains that Bondi and Bongino have been at odds following the DOJ and FBI's joint two-page statement, which concluded there was no need to release a "celebrity client list" associated with Epstein’s activities as a sexual predator.

4. Nomination of Mike Waltz for US Ambassador to the UN

Tonya J. Powers covers the recent political maneuvering surrounding the nomination of Mike Waltz as the US Ambassador to the United Nations. Waltz, a former Republican congressman from Florida and a recent National Security Adviser to President Trump, is set to appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for his confirmation hearing.

"Mike Waltz is expected to answer questions before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday. Waltz, a former Republican Florida congressman, left Congress to serve as President Trump's national security adviser, but left that position in May after he mistakenly included a journalist in a signal chat that discussed plans for a military strike in Yemen."
— Tonya J. Powers [03:34]

Waltz is anticipated to face rigorous scrutiny, particularly from Democratic committee members, due to past controversies, including the inadvertent sharing of sensitive information in a chat that compromised national security.

Powers also notes that President Trump has withdrawn his initial choice for the UN Ambassador role, GOP Representative Elise Stefanik, citing the need to maintain a slim Republican majority in Congress.

"The president pulled the nomination for his first choice for UN Ambassador, GOP Representative Elise Stefanik, whom he asked to remain in Congress amid a slim Republican majority."
— Tonya J. Powers [03:26]

5. Presidential Attendance at FIFA Club World Cup Final

Concluding the political updates, Paul Stevens announces that President Trump and the First Lady will be attending the FIFA Club World Cup soccer final at MetLife Stadium in northern New Jersey.

"The president and the first lady will head to northern New Jersey's MetLife Stadium to attend the FIFA Club world cup soccer final. Paris, France's St. Germain and England's Chelsea FC will be facing off at 6pm Eastern."
— Paul Stevens [04:09]

This event underscores the ongoing relationship between American leadership and international sporting events, highlighting President Trump’s engagement in global cultural activities.

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Note: Advertisements and promotional segments were excluded from this summary to focus solely on the news content delivered during the episode.

Transcript

[Paul Stevens]

Listening to mistakes. I'm Paul Stevens, FOX News. Today, marking one year since President Trump was rushed off stage by Secret Service agents after being grazed by a bullet during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. New report out there exposing some critical security lapses made by the Secret Service on that day.

[Alexis McAdams]

It's been an entire year as we're still learning more information on about exactly what went wrong that day. And there's a lot of mistakes that were made as we were all standing in that field in Butler County. There were snipers up on the roof, people that they were secure. But the family of a man who was killed says most of the people were actually just sitting ducks. This comes after we reflect on the day that Trump nearly lost his life. We weren't sure if President Trump was going to get back up after he went down. And now, according to a new Government Accountability Office report released by Senator Chuck Grassley, there were major mistakes made at the Butler rally. Like the Secret Service knew Trump's life was in danger 10 days before he walked out on the stage in Butler, but he failed to share that information with their own team on the ground. It was really just kind of the higher ups that knew. They didn't tell the agents who were working the rally.

[Paul Stevens]

Fox's Alexis McAdams there. The search for victims still missing after last week's deadly flooding in Texas now suspended because of more rough weather.

[Gernall Scott]

The decision came as responders feared more rain in the forecast would cause water levels to rise again during the flooding July 4. The Guadalupe river rose 26ft in less than one hour, leading to the deadly and destructive flooding. The rain this weekend could cause water level rise that's not as high as last weekend, but still enough to flood secondary roads and put at least one bridge underwater. The Kerr county region is home to several youth camps and facilities, along with Camp mystic, where at least 27 campers and counselors died. Gernall Scott, Fox News and after Fox's.

[Paul Stevens]

Initial donation to the Kerr County Relief Fund, viewers and listeners have stepped up together. $5 million has been raised. America's listening to Fox News.

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[Paul Stevens]

The president defending Attorney General Pam Bondi amid reports of tension between her and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino over how the Jeffrey Epstein files are being handled.

[Chan Lee Painter]

The president is stepping in to defend his Attorney General Pam Bondi as doing, quote, a fantastic job after she came under fire from some Trump supporters over the Department of Justice's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The president posting this in part, quote, one year ago our country was dead. Now it's the hottest country anywhere in the world. Let's keep it that way and not waste time and energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about. The president's post coming after some Trump supporters criticized Bondi or even called for her resignation after the DOJ and the FBI released a joint two page statement that concluded there was no celebrity client list naming those who allegedly took part in Epstein's history as a sexual predator.

[Paul Stevens]

Fox's Chan Lee Painter, President Trump's nominee for US Ambassador to the UN Due to appear before Senate members this week for a confirmation hearing.

[Tonya J. Powers]

Mike Waltz is expected to answer questions before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday. Waltz, a former Republican Florida congressman, left Congress to serve as President Trump's national security adviser, but left that position in May after he mistakenly included a journalist in a signal chat that discussed plans for a military strike in Yemen. He is likely to face more scrutiny and tough questions over that from Democratic committee members. The president pulled the nomination for his first choice for UN Ambassador, GOP Representative Elise Stefanik, whom he asked to remain in Congress amid a slim Republican majority. Tonya J. Powers, FOX News Happening today.

[Paul Stevens]

Also, the president and the first lady will head to northern New Jersey's MetLife Stadium to attend the FIFA Club World cup soccer final. Paris, France's St. Germain and England's Chelsea FC will be facing off at 6pm Eastern. I'm Paul Stevens and this is FOX News.

[Jimmy Phela]

This is Jimmy Phela inviting you to join me for FOX Across America where we'll discuss every single one of the Democrats dumb ideas. Just kidding. It's only a three hour show. Listen live at Noonan Eastern or get the podcast at foxacrossamerica. Com.