2PM ET 09/26/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 2PM ET 09/26/2025

Overview
This Fox News Hourly Update delivers concise national and international news highlights, focusing primarily on the looming U.S. government shutdown, geopolitical tensions involving Israel and Gaza, the death of a notorious U.S. fugitive, legal actions against former FBI Director James Comey, and a school shooting tragedy in Georgia.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Impending U.S. Government Shutdown

• Countdown: With five days left before a potential U.S. government shutdown, gridlock continues in Washington.
• Partisan Blame:
  • Democrats' Position: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticizes Republicans for "gutting health care."
  • Republicans' Counter: President Trump accuses Democrats of "unreasonable demands" in negotiations for a short-term spending deal.
  • "Each side accusing the other of wanting a shutdown." (Lisa Brady, 00:20)
• Current Activities: President Trump departs for the Ryder Cup but tells reporters he anticipates a deal will be reached regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict.

2. Israel, Gaza, and the International Response

• Prime Minister's Defense at the UN:
  • Israel's Prime Minister addresses the UN, defending military actions in Gaza, denying genocide, and criticizing international recognition of Palestinian statehood.
  • "The leaders who recognize a Palestinian state this week sent to the Palestinians. It’s a very clear message… murdering Jews pays off." (Will Kane/Lisa Brady, 00:48–00:57)
• UN Reaction: Many delegates walk out during Israel’s speech.

3. Death of Joanne Chesimard (Assata Shakur)

• Background:
  • Convicted for the 1973 killing of NJ State Trooper Werner Foerster.
  • Escaped prison in 1979 with alleged help from Black Liberation Army (BLA) members; granted asylum in Cuba.
• Recent Development:
  • Cuban government announces her death at age 78 due to health issues and age.
  • "In 2013, she became the first woman added to the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist list." (Lisa Brady, 01:39)

4. Indictment of Former FBI Director James Comey

• New Charges:
  • Comey is indicted for allegedly making a false statement during 2020 Senate testimony.
• Political Fallout:
  • President Trump critiques prior U.S. Attorney for lack of prosecution; replacement Lindsey Halligan, a personal defense attorney, signed off on the indictment.
  • House Democrats, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin, demand transparency, accusing the president of orchestrating a "revenge prosecution."
  • "The president got a subservient replacement to carry out his revenge prosecution. The president says it’s not revenge, that Comey lied to Congress." (Jessica Rosenthal/Jamie Raskin, 02:41–03:04)
  • Comey asserts his innocence.

5. Georgia School Shooting Lawsuits

• Incident Recap:
  • 14-year-old Colt Gray accused of the 2024 Apalachee High School shooting, with four fatalities and nine injuries.
• New Lawsuits:
  • Families of victims allege negligence: ignored FBI warnings, inadequate investigation of threats, and lack of timely lockdown.
  • _"Lawyers for the families filing notice of lawsuits claim the school government and law enforcement ignored the warning signs." (Therese Crowley, 03:20)
• Legal Proceedings:
  • Gray faces more than 50 counts, charged as an adult; his father also charged. Both plead not guilty.

6. Financial Markets

• Wall Street Rally:
  • Dow Jones up more than 300 points. (Lisa Brady, 04:10)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Congressional Stalemate:
  "Democrats are not going to go along to get along." – Lisa Brady, 00:10
  "Each side accusing the other of wanting a shutdown." – Lisa Brady, 00:20

• On Gaza and Global Politics:
  "Murdering Jews pays off, many delegates walking out during his address to the UN General Assembly." – Lisa Brady, 00:57

• On Government Accountability:
  "The president got a subservient replacement to carry out his revenge prosecution. The president says it's not revenge, that Comey lied to Congress." – Jessica Rosenthal quoting Rep. Jamie Raskin, 03:00

• On School Safety Failures:
  "Lawyers for the families...claim the school government and law enforcement ignored the warning signs." – Therese Crowley, 03:20

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:03 – Update on government shutdown gridlock
• 00:48 – Israel PM’s speech to UN and international response
• 01:11 – Death of Joanne Chesimard highlighted
• 02:15 – Indictment of James Comey and political reactions
• 03:13 – Georgia school shooting lawsuits and allegations of negligence
• 04:10 – Stock market rally update

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Tone:
The reporting maintains FOX's signature brisk, urgent delivery, layering concise reporting with pointed attributions and strong political narratives from all sides. Direct quotes punctuate the segment, reflecting the contentious climate in national and international politics.

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For those who missed the episode, this summary covers all major developments, notable moments, and controversies as presented, providing clarity on the hour's top headlines.

Transcript

[Anchor]

The clock's ticking.

[Lisa Brady]

In Washington, Lisa Brady, fox News. With 5 days left to avoid a.

[Anchor]

Government shutdown, Democrats are not going to.

[Lisa Brady]

Go along to get along. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says Republicans are gutting health care. President Trump accuses Democrats of making unreasonable demands for a short term spending deal, each side accusing the other of wanting a shutdown. The president's now in New York for round one of the Ryder cup golf tournament between the US And Europe, telling reporters before he left the White House he thinks there's a deal to end the war in Gaza. While Israel's prime minister was at the UN Defending the fight against Hamas, denying claims of genocide in Gaza and accusing countries that recognize Palestinian statehood of rewarding terrorism.

[Will Kane]

The leaders who recognize a Palestinian state this week sent to the Palestinians. It's a very clear message.

[Lisa Brady]

Murdering Jews pays off many delegates walking out. During his address to the UN General Assembly, a black liberation activist wanted for decades in the US has died in Cuba, which had granted her asylum.

[Anchor]

Joanne Chesimard was convicted for shooting and killing 35 year old new Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster. The shootout happened during a traffic stop on the New Jersey Turnpike with other members of the Black Liberation army in the car. Known as a radical, Chesimard escaped from prison while serving a life sentence. She allegedly had the help of other BLA members. For the escape, Chesimard fled to Cuba, where she lived her life in exile.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Dana Marie McNichol Chesimard's escape was in 1979. In 2013, she became the first woman added to the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorist list. The Cuban Foreign Ministry says she died yesterday due to health conditions and advanced age. She was 78. America is listening to FOX News.

[Will Kane]

It's the Will Kane Show. Watch it live at noon Eastern Monday through Thursday on foxnews.com or on the Fox News YouTube channel. And don't miss a show. Get the podcast five days a week at foxnewspodcasts.com or wherever you download your favorite podcasts.

[Lisa Brady]

Now that former FBI Director James Comey is indicted, charged with making a false statement during Senate testimony in 2020, House Democrats say they're investigating the president's recent replacement of the federal prosecutor in that district.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

In a recent truth social post addressed to U.S. attorney General Pam Bondi, President Trump says Jim Come, Comey and others are guilty, but he complains nothing's being done. Then he says the U.S. attorney in East Virginia who hasn't prosecuted any of these folks is a Republican in name only. He talks up Lindsey Halligan, a personal defense attorney. And the U.S. attorney in Virginia, Eric Siebert, is fired. Halligan is now the acting U.S. attorney. In his place, she signed off on the Comey indictment. Now Judiciary Committee Democrats are demanding documents and correspondence from the Justice Department about Halligan. Maryland Congressman Democrat Jamie Raskin says the president got a subservient replacement to carry out his revenge prosecution. The president says it's not revenge, that Comey lied to Congress. Jessica Rosenthal, FOX News, Comey posting that he's innocent.

[Lisa Brady]

Several families are suing over a deadly school shooting in Georgia.

[Therese Crowley]

Investigators say 14 year old student Colt Gray opened fire inside Apalachee High School the first week at class last September, killing two teachers and two students, injuring nine more. But lawyers for the families filing notice of lawsuits claim the school government and law enforcement ignored the warning signs. In 2023, the FBI alerted Jackson county and investigators questioned Gray about threats of shooting up a school. On the chat platform Discord, Gray denied making comments and wasn't charged with further claims. The high school knew of Gray's troubled behavior and absence, that he posed an immediate threat the day he brought the AR in his backpack to school, but there was no lockdown.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Therese Crowley, the accused shooter, faces more than 50 counts charged as an adult, his father also facing multiple charges. Both have pleaded not guilty. There's a rally on Wall Street. The Dow's up more than 300 points. And Lisa Brady, FOX News.

[Will Kane]

It's will taint country. Watch it live at noon Eastern Monday through [e-mail] or on the Fox News YouTube channel. And don't miss the show. Listen and follow the podcast five days a week at foxnewspodcasts.com or wherever you download your favorite podcasts.