Fox News Hourly Update — 2PM ET 09/09/2025 Newscast
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This episode delivers a concise summary of breaking national and international news, focusing on a high-profile Israeli strike in Qatar, developments in legal cases related to protests and domestic terrorism, consumer and business updates, and brief tech and financial news. It is hosted by Lisa Brady, with on-the-ground reporting from FOX correspondents.
Key News Highlights and Discussions
1. Israeli Strike on Hamas Leaders in Qatar
- [00:02] Lisa Brady reports on President Trump's response to an Israeli strike in Qatar targeting Hamas leaders, an incident he described as “unfortunate.”
- [00:11] The White House, via spokesperson Caroline Levitt, reaffirms Qatar’s status as a “strong ally and friend.” Levitt acknowledges that while the elimination of Hamas is a worthy goal, “the unilateral attack did not advance peace in the region.”
- [00:19] The U.S. followed diplomatic protocol:
- President Trump’s Mideast envoy alerted Qatari officials about the attack in advance.
- Trump subsequently spoke to both the Israeli Prime Minister, who reportedly expressed a desire for peace, and the Emir and Prime Minister of Qatar. Trump assured Qatari leadership “such a thing will not happen again on their soil.”
- [00:50] Hamas claims five lower-ranking members were killed, with top leaders surviving.
Notable Quotes:
- “The president views Qatar as a strong ally and friend of the United States and feels very badly about the location of this attack.”
— White House Spokesperson, Caroline Levitt [00:11] - “He assured them that such a thing will not happen again on their soil.”
— White House Spokesperson, Caroline Levitt [00:39]
2. Georgia Protesters RICO Case Dismissed
- [00:59] Lisa Brady reports that a high-profile “Cop City” protest conspiracy case in Georgia is being thrown out by a Fulton County judge.
- 61 defendants faced racketeering charges for alleged efforts to stop the construction of a police and firefighter training facility.
- The judge claims the State’s Attorney General needed the Governor’s permission to pursue the case, which was not obtained.
- The fate of related domestic terrorism charges remains undecided as of this broadcast.
3. Cracker Barrel’s Response to Customer Backlash
- [01:34] Correspondent Jenny Costola shares that Cracker Barrel will suspend all restaurant remodels following backlash on social media, which also caused the chain to revert to its old logo.
- Only 4 out of 660 locations had been renovated before the suspension.
- Additional cost-saving measures around food preparation have been scrapped.
Notable Quote:
- “You’ve shared your voices…If your restaurant hasn’t been remodeled, you don’t need to worry.”
— Jenny Costola quoting Cracker Barrel’s post on X [01:34]
4. Trump Assassination Attempt: Jury Selection Continues
- [02:16] Lisa Brady introduces coverage of the ongoing federal trial for Ryan Wesley Ruth, accused in the attempted assassination of President Trump at his West Palm Beach property.
- [02:22] Reporter Eben Brown (from Miami) notes:
- Jury selection continues; Ruth is defending himself in court.
- Prosecutors request that Ruth not use apologetic language (“I’m sorry”) to prospective jurors, wary of sympathy ploys.
- Notable moment: A potential juror states she can’t assume Ruth’s innocence, openly declaring “I am MAGA.”
5. Nashville Electric Grid Attack Case Plea
- [03:01] Lisa Brady reports on Skyler Philippe, a Tennessee man who pleaded guilty to plotting an attack on the Nashville electric grid, motivated by white supremacist ideology.
- [03:07] Chris Foster explains:
- Philippe, 24, believed he was about to destroy a substation using a drone with explosives supplied by undercover FBI agents.
- Initially, he considered a mass shooting at a YMCA but switched to targeting the grid for greater impact toward a “whites only state.”
- Charges: Attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and to destroy an energy facility.
6. Tech & Business Briefs
- [03:40] Lisa Brady:
- Apple confirms new AirPods will feature live translation and heart rate sensing.
- Launch of the new iPhone 17 and new Apple Watches announced.
- Stock market rises (Dow up 212 points), attributed to a downward revision in recent U.S. jobs numbers and expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut.
Memorable Moments & Quotes
-
International Diplomacy:
“He assured them that such a thing will not happen again on their soil.”
— White House Spokesperson Caroline Levitt [00:39] -
Jury Selection Drama:
“One woman stood up to say she wouldn’t be able to see Ruth as innocent, using the phrase ‘I am MAGA.’”
— Eben Brown [02:22] -
Corporate Responsiveness:
“You’ve shared your voices… If your restaurant hasn’t been remodeled, you don’t need to worry.”
— Jenny Costola quoting Cracker Barrel’s announcement [01:34]
Timeline of Key Segments
- 00:02–00:50: Israeli strike in Qatar, White House & Hamas responses
- 00:59–01:34: Georgia protester RICO case dismissed
- 01:34–01:48: Cracker Barrel suspends restaurant remodels
- 02:16–03:01: Jury selection in Trump assassination attempt trial
- 03:01–03:40: Nashville grid attack guilty plea and white supremacist plot
- 03:40–04:13: Apple product announcement, market news
For Listeners Who Missed This Episode:
This update covers essential international, legal, consumer, criminal, and business news in a brisk, straightforward style, with a focus on White House diplomacy, legal system checks and balances, high-profile criminal cases, corporate responsiveness, and major technology announcements. Each story is reported with factual clarity and the customary FOX News tone of urgency and national scope.
