2PM ET 07/21/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update - 2PM ET, July 21, 2025

Hosted by FOX News Podcasts

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Harvard Sues Trump Administration Over Funding and First Amendment Rights

[00:02] Alisa Brady opens the update from Boston, highlighting intense protests outside a federal court where a significant legal battle is unfolding. Harvard University has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging violations of federal law and the school's First Amendment rights. Central to the dispute is the administration's directive forcing Harvard to adhere to new policy changes, which notably include disciplining pro-Palestinian protesters on campus.

[00:23] An unnamed Government Attorney provides further context, stating, "Harvard sued the Trump administration after it froze nearly $3 billion in federal funds." The attorney defends the administration's actions, asserting that the cuts are justified due to "anti-Semitism and the alleged targeting of Jewish students."

[00:38] Alisa Brady continues, reporting that the administration is also pushing for Harvard to discontinue certain diversity programs. In a related development, two individuals illegally present in the United States have been apprehended in connection with the shooting of an off-duty Border Patrol agent in a New York City park. The incident occurred over the weekend during what authorities describe as an attempted robbery.

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Immigration Policies Under Scrutiny After Border Patrol Agent Shooting

[00:56] Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, addresses the recent shooting, emphasizing the failure of sanctuary city policies. She asserts, "Neither suspect was supposed to be here. Both had deportation orders." Despite multiple arrests, the suspects were repeatedly released, preventing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from executing deportation. Noem calls on leaders of sanctuary cities to "change their ways," highlighting the need for prioritizing public safety.

[01:16] An unnamed speaker underscores the gravity of the situation, questioning, "How many more lives will it take? How many more people have to be hurt and victimized before we have public safety be a number one priority in some of our largest cities?"

[01:26] Noem adds, "DHS says both suspects are Dominican nationals and investigators say between the two, there are at least 12 prior arrests," indicating a pattern of repeated offenses that went unchecked due to existing policies.

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Legal Repercussions and New Trials in High-Profile Cases

[01:34] Alisa Brady reports on a significant legal development: a federal appeals court has ordered a new trial for Pedro Hernandez, the man convicted in 1979 for the murder of 6-year-old Eitan Pates in New York City. Hernandez, who was serving a 25-to-life sentence following a 2017 conviction, has seen his case overturned due to an issue related to a note sent by the jury. This decision has reignited discussions about the integrity of the judicial process and the handling of long-standing cases.

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Vandalism Targets Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Campaign Amidst Political Tensions

[02:15] In a concerning episode of political unrest, a campaign office for New York Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was vandalized over the weekend. Alisa Brady details that "red paint was splattered on the front window and the sidewalk outside the office in the Bronx." Additionally, police discovered a sign accusing Ocasio-Cortez of "funding genocide in Gaza."

[02:26] Gurnall Scott elaborates, tying the vandalism to Ocasio-Cortez's recent political actions. "That's in reference to a vote she cast last week in the House against a bill from Georgia GOP Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene that would have slashed US foreign aid funding for Israel, including its defense forces," he explains. The Congresswoman had posted on X (formerly Twitter) commenting that Greene's amendment "did not end the flow of U.S. munitions in Gaza," which influenced her decision to vote against it.

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Health Sector Reforms Announced by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

[03:02] Transitioning to health news, Alisa Brady reports that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has unveiled plans to reform the organ transplant system. This initiative follows a departmental probe that uncovered "systemic disregard for the sanctity of life." Kennedy states that hospitals have been initiating the organ procurement process "when patients still show signs of life," raising ethical concerns about current practices. The proposed reforms aim to ensure greater respect and integrity within the organ donation framework.

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Launch of the World's Largest Cruise Vessel: Star of the Seas

[03:22] Therese Crowley shares exciting news from the maritime industry: the introduction of the "Star of the Seas," the largest cruise vessel globally. The ship is currently on its shakedown cruise from its construction port in Finland and is scheduled to dock at Florida's Port Canaveral on August 15th. Set to embark on its maiden voyage on August 31st, this "virtual city at sea" boasts 30 decks accommodating up to 5,000 passengers. Among its attractions are the largest water park at sea and a Broadway-style stage. Tickets for this monumental cruise start at $951, with itineraries including stops in the Caribbean and docking off Royal Caribbean's private island.

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Stock Markets Reach New Highs

[04:02] In financial news, Therese Crowley reports a positive trend in the stock markets. "Stocks remain higher," she states, noting that "the Dow's up to 24, the S&P and the Nasdaq hitting new highs." This uptick reflects investor confidence and positive economic indicators, contributing to a buoyant market sentiment.

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Conclusion

This episode of the Fox News Hourly Update provided a comprehensive overview of pressing national issues, including legal battles between educational institutions and the federal government, challenges in immigration enforcement, political tensions leading to acts of vandalism, significant health sector reforms, major developments in the cruise industry, and a bullish stock market trend. Notable contributions from key figures like Kristi Noem and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. added depth to the discussions, offering listeners detailed insights into the complexities of these ongoing stories.

Transcript

[Alisa Brady]

Protesters outside federal court. Alisa Brady, FOX News. No Kings here there in Boston where a federal judge is hearing a Harvard lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of violating federal law and the school's First Amendment rights by forcing it to comply with policy changes, including discipline of pro Palestinian protesters.

[Unnamed Government Attorney]

Harvard sued the Trump administration after it froze nearly $3 billion in federal funds. An attorney for the government argued the administration has every right to cancel funding and says anti Semitism and the alleged targeting of Jewish students is enough to justify the cuts.

[Alisa Brady]

Fox's Reinsh Bells in Washington. The administration also wanted the school to end certain diversity programs. Two suspects who are in the US Illegally are now in custody in connection with the shooting of an off duty Border Patrol agent wounded during what police say was an attempted robbery in a New York City park over the weekend.

[Kristi Noem]

Neither suspect was supposed to be here. Both had deportation orders. But DHS Secretary Kristi Noem says while the men were repeatedly arrested, sanctuary city policies meant they were always released before ICE agents could pick them up. Now she's calling on leaders in these sanctuary cities to change their ways.

[Unnamed Speaker]

How many more lives will it take? How many more people have to be hurt and victimized before we have public safety be a number one priority in some of our largest cities?

[Kristi Noem]

DHS says both suspects are Dominican nationals and investigators say between the two, there are at least 12 prior arrests.

[Alisa Brady]

Foxes CB Cotton, Homeland Security chief and border czar, visiting the agent in the hospital. Earlier today, a federal appeals court just ordering a new trial for the man convicted of killing 6 year old Eitan Pates in New York City in 1979. Pedro Hernandez, serving 25 years to life after a 2017 conviction the appeals court overturned because of an issue related a note sent by the jury. America's listening to FOX News.

[Jason Chaffetz]

This is Jason Chaffetz from the Jason in the House podcast. Join me every Monday to dive deeper into the latest political headlines and chat with remarkable, remarkable guests.

[Unnamed Podcast Host]

Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you download podcasts.

[Alisa Brady]

A campaign office for New York Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez is vandalized over the weekend. The NYPD investigating red paint was splattered.

[Gurnall Scott]

On the front window and the sidewalk outside the office in the Bronx. Police also found a sign out front accusing Ocasio Cortez of funding genocide in Gaza. That's in reference to a vote she cast last week in the House against a bill from Georgia GOP Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene that would have slashed US Foreign aid funding for Israel, including its defense forces on X. Last week, Ocasio Cortez posted that Green's amendment did not end the flow of U.S. munitions in Gaza, prompting her no vote. In New York City, Gurnall Scott, Fox.

[Alisa Brady]

News Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Just announcing an effort to begin reforming the organ transplant system after after a probe by his department finding systemic disregard for sanctity of life, Kennedy says hospitals are allowing the organ procurement process to begin when patients still show signs of life. A new attraction off the Florida coast.

[Therese Crowley]

A new star becomes visible from Florida's Space coast. It's the Star of the Seas, the largest cruise vessel in the world, underway on its shakedown cruise from its construction port in Finland. Docking at Florida's Port Canaveral August 15th. The crowning jewel of the Royal Caribbean fleet will embark on its maiden voyage August 31st. A virtual city at sea with 30 decks for a mind boggling 5,000 passengers, the largest water park on the sea and even a Broadway stage. Lowest price ticket $951. Making stops in the Caribbean, then the floating city docks off the Royal Caribbean private island.

[Alisa Brady]

Therese Crowley, FOX News Stocks remain higher, the Dow's up to 24, the S& P and the Nasdaq hitting new high. Lisa Brady, FOX NEWS.

[Unnamed Podcast Host]

Listen to the all new Brett Baer podcast featuring common ground in depth, talks with lawmakers from opposite sides of the aisle, along with all your Brett Bear favorites like his All Star panel and much more. Available now at foxnewspodcasts. Com or wherever you get your podcasts.