Fox News Hourly Update: 2PM ET 09/04/2025 Newscast

Host: FOX News Podcasts
Date: September 4, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise roundup of key national and international news, including escalating actions against drug cartels, political controversy involving top government officials, developments in high-profile legal matters, and a tribute to a fashion legend. Presented in a rapid-fire newscast format, the show aims to keep listeners updated with the latest breaking stories shaping the political and cultural landscapes.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Escalation in the "War on Cartels"

[00:02] – [00:32]

• Trump Administration Action: The administration has designated two Ecuadorian gangs as foreign terrorist organizations, signaling a major escalation in US anti-cartel policy.
• Context: This follows a recent US strike on a drug vessel in the Caribbean, and a warning from officials that more aggressive action is coming.

Notable Quotes:

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio (from Ecuador):
  "We're not just going to hunt for drug dealers with little fast boats and say let's try to arrest them. No, the president has said he wants to wage war on these groups because they've been waging war on us for 30 years and no one has responded." — [00:15] "There's no need to do that in many cases with friendly governments because the friendly governments are going to help us. They may do it themselves." — [00:29]

• Impact: These designations open "all sorts of options for the US Government to crack down on violent groups."

2. Health Leadership Shakeup and Senate Grilling

[00:32] – [01:22]

• Health Secretary Under Fire: Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., faces bipartisan calls to resign amid the controversial firing of CDC Director Susan Menarez and broader structural changes at the CDC.
• Senate Finance Committee Hearing: Kennedy defends the overhaul as “absolutely necessary.”

Notable Quotes:

• Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.:
  "It's imperative that we remove officials with conflicts of interest and catastrophically bad judgment and political agendas. We need unbiased politics, free, transparent, evidence-based science." — [00:56]
• Opposition: Democrats accuse Kennedy of "discarding well-established science related to vaccines and elevating conspiracy theorists." — [01:11]

3. Criminal Investigation of Former Federal Reserve Governor

[01:22] – [01:50]

• Justice Department Activity: Subpoenas are issued as federal prosecutors investigate Lisa Cook, recently dismissed Federal Reserve Board member, for alleged mortgage fraud cited as cause for her firing by President Trump.
• Controversy: Cook’s attorneys claim the dismissal is politically motivated, and the investigation comes on the heels of her removal.

Notable Quotes:

• "The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into Lisa Cook... Cook is accused by a federal regulator of mortgage fraud that President Trump says provides legal cause to fire Cook." — [01:29]
• "House attorneys for Cook say her firing is political." — [01:50]

4. Ghislaine Maxwell Prison Transfer Controversy

[02:15] – [02:59]

• Congressional Oversight: Democrats, led by California Congressman Robert Garcia, demand a Department of Justice investigation into why Ghislaine Maxwell was moved to a less secure prison after testifying that she had no knowledge of President Trump committing crimes linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
• Allegation: Garcia suspects Maxwell "manufactured her testimony" and raises concern about the impact of her transfer.
• Joint Action: Garcia is the House Oversight Committee's ranking member; all panel Democrats support the inquiry.

Notable Quotes:

• Congressman Robert Garcia:
  "...demanding the Department of Justice investigate why Ghislaine Maxwell ... was relocated to a different prison after providing additional testimony claiming she had no knowledge of President Trump committing any crimes in association with Epstein..." — [02:20]
  "Garcia accuses Maxwell of manufacturing her testimony." — [02:34]

5. Montana Bar Shooting Case

[02:59] – [03:50]

• Legal Update: Michael Paul Brown, accused of killing four people at a Montana bar, pleads not guilty and is now to be held without bond due to mental health and public safety concerns.
• Incident Details: Prosecutors allege Brown attempted arson before the shootings, later stole a truck, and evaded police for a month. The suspected shooter was a longtime customer, lived nearby, and has a history of mental illness.
• Status: Authorities haven’t announced any motive yet.

Notable Quotes:

• "The judge in the case now orders Brown to be held without the possibility of bail because of his mental health issues and public safety concerns." — [03:35]
• "His family says he struggled with mental illness for a long time. Prosecutors have not said anything about a possible motive for the shooting." — [03:43]

6. Remembering Giorgio Armani

[03:50] – [04:13]

• Passing of a Cultural Icon: Giorgio Armani, the revered Italian fashion designer, dies at 91, weeks before marking 50 years of his fashion house.
• Celebrity Tribute: Julia Roberts calls Armani "a true friend and legend," sharing a broken heart emoji on social media.
• Economic Note: The Dow is up 322 points at time of broadcast.

Memorable Moments & Quotes (With Timestamps)

• "The president has said he wants to wage war on these groups because they've been waging war on us for 30 years and no one has responded."
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio — [00:15]
• "It's imperative that we remove officials with conflicts of interest... We need unbiased politics, free, transparent, evidence-based science."
  • Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — [00:56]
• "Garcia accuses Maxwell of manufacturing her testimony."
  • FOX News’ Eben Brown on Congressman Garcia’s letter — [02:34]
• "The judge...orders Brown to be held without the possibility of bail because of his mental health issues and public safety concerns."
  • Chris Foster, FOX News — [03:35]
• "Julia Roberts posting a broken heart emoji and calling Armani a true friend and legend."
  • FOX News — [04:05]

Segment Timestamps

• 00:02 — War on cartels: US designates Ecuadorian gangs as terrorists
• 00:32 — HHS shakeup: Secretary Kennedy defends CDC overhaul to Congress
• 01:22 — DOJ investigates fired Fed Governor Lisa Cook for mortgage fraud
• 02:15 — Democrats demand answers on Ghislaine Maxwell prison transfer
• 02:59 — Montana bar shooting suspect to be held without bail
• 03:50 — Fashion icon Giorgio Armani dies at 91

This episode delivers fast-paced coverage of the day’s most salient political, legal, and cultural news, marked by strong rhetoric from leading figures and ongoing controversies at the heart of US governance and society.