2PM ET 09/18/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update — 2PM ET 09/18/2025 Newscast

Host: Lisa Brady
Date: September 18, 2025

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Overview

This episode delivers a concise roundup of the day’s major political, legal, and societal stories as covered by Fox News Radio. The central themes include political contention over free speech in the wake of a controversial public death, high-profile lawsuits against major corporations, critical government action on health and safety, and developing legal challenges in college sports.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Political Fallout and Free Speech Debate

• Senate Democrats Accuse Trump Administration
  • Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sharply criticizes the Trump administration for “supercharging” a political campaign following the murder of Charlie Kirk.
  • Schumer claims the administration is leveraging Kirk's death to target political opponents and stifle free speech.
    • Quote: “They don't want people to even speak.” — [Fox News Anchor, 00:18]
• Media and Free Speech Controversy
  • Institutions and companies, including ABC, have suspended or fired individuals over remarks related to Kirk. Notably, Jimmy Kimmel’s show is pulled after his monologue suggesting “Magaland” is exploiting the tragedy.
  • In a press briefing, President Trump denies any connection to free speech issues, attributing Kimmel’s dismissal to “bad ratings.”
    • Quote: “He was fired for lack of talent.” — [Attorney Kerry Sutton, 00:49]
  • Debate continues over the application and definition of free speech in the corporate and media sphere.

Timestamps

• 00:02–01:05: Coverage of Schumer’s accusations, media reaction, and debate around Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension.

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2. Major Lawsuit: FTC vs. Ticketmaster/Live Nation

• Federal Trade Commission Sues Ticketmaster
  • The FTC alleges Ticketmaster and parent company Live Nation misled artists and customers, advertising artificially low ticket prices and allowing brokers to override purchase limits.
  • The action cites a March executive order from President Trump aimed at consumer protections in ticketing.
    • Quote: “Their practices deceive customers by advertising low ticket prices while making them pay higher costs.” — [Fox News Correspondent, 01:18]
  • Live Nation has not yet commented; previously, it expressed support for suggested reforms.

Timestamps

• 01:05–01:49: Full coverage of FTC lawsuit, legislative background, and official responses.

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3. U.S. Organ Transplant System Reforms

• Federal Crackdown on Unsafe Practices
  • Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announces the decertification of Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency (Miami) following persistent safety failures and federal violations.
    • Quote: “We are acting because of years of documented patient safety data failures… and we intend this decision to serve as a clear warning.” — [Attorney Kerry Sutton quoting RFK Jr., 03:15]
  • Chronic staffing shortages have resulted in approximately eight missed organ recoveries per week.
    • Quote: “More than 100,000 people are on the national transplant waiting list and 13 people die each day waiting for a transplant.” — [Health Secretary RFK Jr., 03:28]
  • Reforms aim to raise safety standards and protect patients from wrongful declarations of death.

Timestamps

• 02:57–03:43: Details on organ transplant system reforms and statistical context.

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4. Sports Abuse Lawsuit at North Carolina State

• Civil Suit Alleges Pattern of Abuse
  • Fourteen former athletes file a civil lawsuit against Dr. Robert Murphy, ex-Director of Sports Medicine at NC State, alleging a pattern of sexual abuse.
    • Quote: “It’s not an alleged one off. It’s a pattern of alleged abuse against a substantial number of young men. And now it’s time for justice.” — [Attorney Kerry Sutton, 03:59]
  • Allegations extend to athletic staff for inaction and cover-up. The scope of abuse may reach hundreds.
  • Survivors step forward seeking justice and recognition of institutional failures.

Timestamps

• 03:43–04:44: Reporting and legal context on NC State sports scandal.

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5. Market Update

• Strong Performance in US Markets
  • Dow Jones up by 153 points, NASDAQ surges over 200, indicating broad market optimism.
    • Quote: “Right now the Dow’s up 153 points, the NASDAQ with a bigger rally up more than 200.” — [Lisa Brady, 04:44]

Timestamps

• 04:44–04:55: Brief financial market recap.

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Notable Quotes

• “This administration is trying to snuff it out. They don't want people to even speak.” — Fox News Anchor [00:18]
• “He was fired for lack of talent.” — Attorney Kerry Sutton [00:49]
• “Their practices deceive customers by advertising low ticket prices while making them pay higher costs.” — Fox News Correspondent [01:18]
• “We are acting because of years of documented patient safety data failures and repeated violations of federal requirements, and we intend this decision to serve as a clear warning.” — Attorney Kerry Sutton (quoting RFK Jr.) [03:15]
• “It’s not an alleged one off. It’s a pattern of alleged abuse against a substantial number of young men. And now it’s time for justice.” — Attorney Kerry Sutton [03:59]

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Memorable Moments

• President Trump distances himself from the firing of Jimmy Kimmel, focusing instead on ratings rather than the broader free speech debate. [00:46]
• The federal government making a high-profile example out of a Miami organ recovery agency, with the intent to raise national transplant standards. [03:15]
• 14 athletes coming forward together in the NC State sports abuse case, potentially pioneering broader accountability. [03:59]

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Summary Table of Key Segments

| Segment | Speaker(s) | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|------------| | Senate, free speech, Charlie Kirk controversy | Lisa Brady, Schumer, Press, Trump | 00:02–01:05| | FTC lawsuit against Ticketmaster/Live Nation | Fox News Correspondent | 01:05–01:49| | U.S. organ transplant system reforms | Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Kerry Sutton| 02:57–03:43| | NC State sports abuse lawsuit | Attorney Kerry Sutton | 03:43–04:44| | US markets update | Lisa Brady | 04:44–04:55|

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This newscast weaves together headline events shaping U.S. politics, law, health, and sports, with direct quotes and perspectives from key players, offering listeners a brisk yet informative cross-section of the day’s top stories.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

The top Senate Democrat goes on the attack on Lisa Brady.

[Fox News Anchor]

Fox News it's repulsive. Repulsive.

[Lisa Brady]

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accusing the Trump administration of using what Schumer calls the awful death of Charlie Kirk to supercharge a campaign against political opponents.

[Fox News Anchor]

One of the great hallmarks of our country is free speech, whether you agree or disagree, and this administration is trying to snuff it out. They don't want people to even speak.

[Lisa Brady]

This, as some companies and institutions have fired or suspended people over Kirk. Related comments, including the ABC suspension of late night host Jimmy Kimmel. Reporters asking President Trump and the British prime minister earlier today whether free speech is under attack and about Kimmel specifically.

[Reporter]

President Trump says he believes it was due to bad ratings.

[Attorney Kerry Sutton]

You can call that free speech or not. He was fired for lack of talent.

[Reporter]

ABC pulled Kimmel's show off the air indefinitely after comments he made in a recent monologue claiming many in Magaland were working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Ryan Schmelz in Washington. One congressional Democrat crad is moving to subpoena the FCC chair, the Federal Trade Commission, suing the nation's leading concert ticket vendor, claiming it deceives artists and customers.

[Fox News Correspondent]

The FTC's complaint against Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation, is that their practices deceive customers by advertising advertising low ticket prices while making them pay higher costs. It's also alleged that while customers must adhere to limits on tickets, brokers are often allowed to exceed those limits. The FTC said it's using a March executive order from President Trump which calls on the federal government to keep consumers from being taken advantage of by ticket vendors. As a guide for its action, Fox's.

[Lisa Brady]

Girl Scott Live Nation has not reacted to this lawsuit, but previously said it supported reforms called for by the President. America is listening. Listening to Fox News.

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[Lisa Brady]

The U.S. organ transplant system is getting reforms after long standing reports of unsafe practices.

[Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Says Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency in Miami, Florida will be decertified as one of the 35 U.S. nonprofits with federal contracts to arrange transplants.

[Attorney Kerry Sutton]

We are acting because of years of documented patient safety data failures and repeated violations of federal requirements, and we intend this decision to serve as a clear warning, he says.

[Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

Long term staffing shortages caused roughly eight missed organ recoveries each week, according to the Health Resources and Services administration. More than 100,000 people are on the national transplant waiting list and 13 people die each day waiting for a transplant.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Tanya J. Powers Kennedy also citing reports of patients wrongfully declared dead. He says changes will help set a new standard that patient safety must come first. Sports doctor is facing multiple claims of abuse the now former NC State official named in a new lawsuit.

[Attorney Kerry Sutton]

It's not an alleged one off. It's a pattern of alleged abuse against a substantial number of young men. And now it's time for justice. Claim 14 Former male athletes at North Carolina State University civil lawsuit filed Wednesday against former NC State Director of Sports Medicine Dr. Robert Murphy, accused by several plaintiffs of having touched their genitals during unnecessary massages and treatments. The suit also claims that NC State athletic staff members knew of these claims but did nothing to stop further alleged abuse. Attorney Kerry Sutton stated these 14 athletes have come forward together hoping to encourage others abused by Rob Murphy to see it wasn't just them. Sutton stated Murphy took advantage of those fears. People at every level losing their jobs to get away with abusing what we believe may turn out to be hundreds of former Wolfpack athletes. Jared Max, Fox News Stocks remain higher.

[Lisa Brady]

Right now the Dow's up 153 points, the NASDAQ with a bigger rally up more than 200 and Lisa Brady, FOX News.

[Janice Dean]

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.

[Fox News Anchor]

Listen and follow [e-mail].