2PM ET 09/16/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 2PM ET 09/16/2025

Main Theme & Episode Overview

This concise newscast delivers fast-breaking headlines from Capitol Hill, criminal justice, federal initiatives, and regulatory news. Key topics include heated Senate testimony by FBI Director Cash Patel, federal crime crackdowns involving the National Guard, updates on high-profile criminal cases, new FDA actions on telehealth, and market news.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Senate Hearing: FBI Director Cash Patel Faces Scrutiny

[00:02–00:58]

• Fireworks during Senate Testimony:

  • FBI Director Cash Patel appears before the Senate, defending himself against accusations by Democrats of politicizing the FBI and avenging Trump-related investigations by firing agents.
  • California Senator Adam Schiff presses Patel directly about any disciplinary action against agents involved with Trump/Jan 6th probes.
    • Notably tense exchange:

      B: “Did you terminate or participate in any discipline of any FBI employee in whole or in part because of their work on an investigation of Donald Trump or January 6th? Yes or no?..."
      B (Patel): “...you don't like the answer because it's no.” [00:15–00:37]

• Handling of Jeffrey Epstein Investigation:

  • Schiff questions Patel on this point, prompting a fierce personal attack from Patel:

    B (Patel): “I'm not surprised that you continue to lie from your perch and put on a show so you can go raise money for your charade. You are a political buffoon at best.” [00:45–00:58]

• Ongoing FBI Investigations:

  • Patel updates lawmakers on a continuing probe into a chat group linked to Charlie Kirk’s accused killer, with formal charges pending in Utah.

2. Utah Shooting Investigation

[01:16–01:29]

• Investigators are combing through the electronics of Tyler Robinson, the accused killer, searching for evidence of accomplices or advance knowledge among his contacts.

3. New York Court Case – Terrorism Charges Dropped

[01:29–02:00]

• Judge in NYC drops state terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione, accused of killing a health care executive, stating ideological motivation alone doesn’t meet the state’s legal terrorism definition.
• Mangione still faces several counts, including murder.

4. Federal Crime Crackdown & National Guard in Memphis

[02:28–03:19]

• Memphis prepares for arrival of the National Guard as part of President Trump’s federal crime crackdown, dubbed Operation Viper, in partnership with state and federal agencies.

  • D: “The National Guard is coming to Memphis... in Operation Viper to get violent offenders off the streets.” [02:36–02:52]

  • President Trump signed a memorandum with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and hinted at possible action in Chicago.

• Regional Impact:

  • Nearby Mississippi sheriffs pre-emptively clearing jails for a possible crime spillover.

• Presidential Quote:

  • B (Trump): “We’re not going to allow this kind of savagery to destroy our society anymore. We’re stopping it doing one by one time, but we want to go quickly.” [02:52–03:02]

• Trump claims DC’s crime problem is “fixed” as he heads to the UK for a state visit.

5. FDA Targets Telehealth Companies Over Drug Claims

[03:19–04:13]

• FDA cracks down on firms (including Hims and Hers) for comparing compounded products to FDA-approved weight-loss drugs (e.g., Wegovy, Ozempic), sending 100-plus warning letters.

  • E: “The agency says the claims imply that products are the same as an FDA approved product when they are not.” [03:35–03:52]

• HIMS responds, noting its materials make clear compounded treatments lack FDA approval.
• This move follows Trump's directive for pharmaceutical honesty in advertising.

6. Market Updates

[04:13–04:28]

• Stocks dip as the Federal Reserve begins a two-day meeting, with expectations of a possible rate cut.

  • A: "The Dow is down 103.” [04:13–04:28]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Patel v. Schiff at Senate Hearing:

  B (Patel): “You are a political buffoon at best.” [00:45–00:58]

• President Trump on Crime:

  B (Trump): “We’re not going to allow this kind of savagery to destroy our society anymore.” [02:52–03:02]

• FDA on Telehealth Drug Claims:

  E: “The agency says the claims imply that products are the same as an FDA approved product when they are not.” [03:35–03:52]

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Important Timestamps

• [00:02–00:58] — Senate hearing fireworks; Patel and Schiff trade barbs
• [01:16–01:29] — Utah shooting investigation update
• [01:29–02:00] — NYC judge drops terrorism charge in high-profile murder
• [02:28–03:19] — National Guard mobilization in Memphis; Trump’s crackdown
• [03:19–04:13] — FDA enforcement on telehealth drug marketing
• [04:13–04:28] — Fed meeting and stock market dip

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Tone & Language

The reporting is crisp, urgent, and occasionally contentious, reflecting the high-stakes political maneuvers and federal interventions discussed. Direct quotations highlight the confrontational exchanges and official stances central to the episode’s news stories.

Transcript

[A]

Fireworks at a Senate hearing. Elisa Brady, Fox News as FBI Director Cash Patel defends himself from Democrat claims he's politicizing the agency and avenging Trump investigations by firing agents.

[B]

Did you terminate or participate in any discipline of any FBI employee in whole or in part because of their work on an investigation of Donald Trump or January 6th? Yes or no? Any terminations that the FBI by employees? I'm asking you a very specific going to answer the question but you don't like the answer because it's no.

[A]

California Senator Adam Schiff also questioning the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Patel calling Schiff a fraud and a coward.

[B]

I'm not surprised. I'm not surprised that you continue to lie from your perch and put on a show so you can go raise money for your charade. You are a political buffoon at best.

[A]

Patel says, combating the weaponization of intelligence Also telling lawmakers the FBI continues to investigate the other members of a chat group where Charlie Kirk's accused killer reportedly talked about the shooting. He's expected to be formally charged with state counts in Utah soon.

[B]

Investigators are going through all of the suspect's electronics to track down anyone he has been in touch with, using his cell phone, computers and video game systems to find out if he got any kind of help and who knew about his plans beforehand.

[A]

Fox's Garrett Tenney outside the Utah County J where Tyler Robinson is held without bond ahead of an expected virtual court appearance this afternoon. A judge in New York City drops state terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing a health care executive last December. He still faces multiple state and federal counts, including murder. But the judge ruling that New York law doesn't consider something to be terrorism simply because it's motivated by ideology. America is listening to Fox News.

[C]

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[A]

News A Tennessee city prepares for the National Guard as part of the president's federal crime crackdown.

[D]

We're not told when, but that the National Guard is coming to Memphis with the assist of federal and state law enforcement agencies in Operation Viper to get violent offenders off the streets. President Trump signed a memorandum on the mission Monday alongside Tennessee Governor Republican Bill Lee.

[B]

We're not going to allow this kind of savagery to destroy our society anymore. We're stopping it doing one by one time, but we want to go quickly.

[D]

Meantime, a Mississippi sheriff's department directly south of Memphis clearing out its jail of state prisoners as it prepares for crime to head south. The president also saying that he may revisit sending the guard here to Chicago. Jeff Manasso, FOX News President Trump defending.

[A]

The crime crackdown, telling reporters Washington, D.C. is fixed as he travels to the UK for a historic second state visit. The FDA targeting health telehealth companies for promoting unofficial versions of prescription drugs including weight loss medications.

[E]

The Food and Drug Administration sending more than 100 letters to drug and online prescribing companies including Hims and Hers warning them to remove false and misleading statements claiming products contain the same active ingredient as FDA approved drugs WeGovy and Ozempic. The agency says the claims imply that products are the same as an FDA approved product when they are not. A rep for the San Francisco based brand HIMS says it looks forward to engaging with the fda, adding our website and consumer facing materials. Note that compounded treatments are not approved or evaluated by the fda. The letters come following President Trump directing federal officials to ensure that all pharmaceutical ads are truthful and non misleading.

[A]

Fox's Kristine Goodwin stocks are lower as the Fed begins a two day meeting ahead of a possible rate cut decision tomorrow. Right now, The Dow is down 103. Lisa Brady, Fox News.

[E]

I'm Janice Dean. Join me every Sunday as I focus on stories of hope and people who are truly rays of sunshine in their community and across the world.

[D]

Listen and follow [e-mail].