2PM ET 10/17/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 2PM ET 10/17/2025

Host: Lisa Brady, FOX News Podcasts
Date: October 17, 2025
Episode Theme:
This newscast covers major international and domestic developments, including high-level diplomacy surrounding the Ukraine war, security and legal actions tied to global conflicts, European tensions over energy infrastructure, an ongoing federal crackdown on crime in Memphis, and updates on U.S.-China trade relations.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Diplomatic Moves to End the Ukraine War

[00:02–00:26]

• Ukrainian President Zelensky At the White House:
  • President Zelensky visits President Trump, hoping for renewed momentum to stop the Russia-Ukraine war.
  • Zelensky expresses optimism:

    “I'm confident that with your help we can stop this war.”
    (Volodymyr Zelensky, 00:10)

  • Trump had an extended two-hour conversation with Russia’s President Putin the previous day, signaling active diplomacy.
    • Trump emphasizes urgency:

      “We went through a lot of details. He wants to get it ended. I think that President Zelensky wants to get it ended. Now. We have to get it done.”
      (Donald Trump, 00:19)

  • Issue of U.S. allowing Ukraine to buy longer-range Tomahawk missiles is pending; Trump worries about escalation, but it's being considered.
    • Noted that Putin has warned against such escalation.
  • Zelensky mentions Trump’s "momentum" in peacemaking after the Gaza ceasefire deal.

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2. U.S. Arrest in Connection with Gaza Conflict

[00:27–01:25]

• Arrest of Mahmoud Al Matadi in Louisiana:
  • A Palestinian national, Mahmoud Al Matadi, is detained for alleged involvement in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
  • According to the criminal complaint, Al Matadi joined the attack after learning about the Hamas invasion, arming himself and crossing into Israel.
  • He allegedly lied on his U.S. visa application, hiding connections to paramilitary groups, and entered via Dallas/Fort Worth Airport in September 2024.
  • Facing accusations of violating terrorism laws and using fraudulent immigration documents.
  • He remains in U.S. custody.
    (Reported by Jonathan Serrie, 00:50)

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3. Legal Update: John Bolton Case

[01:26–01:34]

• Former Trump National Security Advisor Released:
  • John Bolton is released from custody after pleading not guilty to federal charges of mishandling classified information.
  • Bolton calls the prosecution "an abuse of power." (No direct quote given in transcript.)

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4. Nord Stream Pipeline Sabotage & Extradition Dispute

[02:15–03:07]

• Polish Court Blocks Extradition:
  • Poland denies the extradition of a Ukrainian, Vladimir Z, to Germany, who is accused of involvement in the 2022 Nord Stream gas pipeline explosions.
    • German prosecutors claim he is a diver linked to placing explosives off a Danish island, damaging both Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2.
    • His wife provides an alibi; his lawyer argues no Ukrainian should be prosecuted for actions against Russia.
  • Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk says it’s against their interests to extradite him, underlining Poland’s anti-Russian stance and skepticism of Russian energy infrastructure.
    • Tusk:

      “Europe's problem is not that Nord Stream 2 was blown up, but that it was built.”
      (Paraphrased by Therese Crowley, 02:45)

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5. Memphis Declares State of Emergency Amid Federal Crime Crackdown

[03:07–03:50]

• Emergency in Shelby County, Memphis:
  • A surge in federal law enforcement presence leads to a state of emergency, declared by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, due to increased strain on resources, particularly jails.
    • Daily arrests are up by 200% following the arrival of the Memphis Safe Task Force, a joint operation by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, President Trump, and Memphis Mayor Paul Young.
  • The emergency declaration allows flexible spending to manage the arrest/detention surge and is oriented toward preserving public health, safety, and welfare.
  • The declaration stays until the task force completes operations.
    (Reported by Jeff Manasso, 03:11)

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6. Economic and Trade Headlines

[03:50–04:14]

• U.S.-China Tensions Ease, Markets Up:
  • Treasury Secretary expresses hope that tensions are cooling after China’s rare earth export controls and U.S. tariff threats.
  • Stock markets responding positively:
    • Dow Jones up 229 points
    • S&P and Nasdaq also in the green

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Zelensky to Trump:

  “I'm confident that with your help we can stop this war.” (00:10)

• Trump on Ending Ukraine War:

  “We went through a lot of details. He wants to get it ended. I think that President Zelensky wants to get it ended. Now. We have to get it done.” (00:19)

• Poland’s Prime Minister Tusk (reported):

  “Europe's problem is not that Nord Stream 2 was blown up, but that it was built.” (02:45)

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Segment Timestamps

• Ukraine Peace Push & Zelensky Visit: 00:02–00:26
• Louisiana Hamas-Linked Arrest: 00:27–01:25
• John Bolton Legal Update: 01:26–01:34
• Nord Stream Sabotage/Extradition Dispute: 02:15–03:07
• Memphis State of Emergency: 03:07–03:50
• China Trade & Markets Update: 03:50–04:14

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This newscast features rapid updates on global tensions, the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, a dramatic legal case tied to Gaza, European geopolitical maneuvering, and significant U.S. domestic law enforcement action, all delivered with Fox News' signature directness and urgency.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

He's back at the White House on Lisa Brady, Fox News. Ukraine's President Zelensky arriving a short time ago and just telling President Trump, I'm.

[Volodymyr Zelensky]

Confident that with your help we can stop this war.

[Lisa Brady]

This A day after President Trump spoke for more than two hours with Russia's President Putin.

[Volodymyr Zelensky]

We went through a lot of details. He wants to get it ended. I think that President Zelensky wants to get it ended. Now. We have to get it done.

[Lisa Brady]

He says allowing Ukraine to buy longer range Tomahawk missiles would be an escalation, but that it will be discussed today. Putin has warned against allowing those missiles. Zelensky also says President Trump has momentum to stop the war after the Gaza ceasefire deal. A Palestinian national accused of taking part in the Hamas attack on Israel that started the war in Gaza is arrested in Louisiana.

[Jonathan Serrie]

He was living here in the US Legally, at least on paper. Investigators say he lied on his visa application by failing to disclose his alleged connections to paramilitary groups. He was living in Lafayette, Louisiana. His name is Mahmoud Al Matadi. And according to the criminal complaint filed in U.S. district Court, evidence shows that on the morning of October 7, 2023, Al Mutadi learned about the Hamas invasion, armed himself, gathered others and crossed into Israel with the intention of assisting with Hamas's terrorist attack.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jonathan Seri Al Mutadi is accused of violating terrorism laws, the affidavit says. Border protection records show he entered the US In September of last year at Dallas Fort Wor Airport in Texas, accused of using a false application to obtain permission to travel and to get legal permanent resident status. He remains in custody for now. Former first term Trump national security adviser John Bolton released from custody after pleading not guilty to federal charges of mishandling classified information. He calls the case an abuse of power. America is listening to Fox News.

[Will Cain]

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

[Lisa Brady]

As President Trump makes a renewed push to end the war in Ukraine, a mystery endures under the Baltic who ruptured Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines.

[Therese Crowley]

A Polish court blocked the extradition of a Ukrainian to Germany and ordered him released. German prosecutors claim 46 year old Vladimir Z is a trained diver, part of a group that planted explosives off a Danish island that ruptured the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline three years ago. And damaged Nord Stream 2. His wife is his alibi, while Prime Minister Tusk says it would not be in Poland's interest to hand him over. Poland is strongly anti Russian and anti Russian pipeline amid Russia's war on Ukraine. Tusk says Europe's problem is not that Nord Stream 2 was blown up, but that it was built. The diver's lawyer argues no Ukrainian should be charged anyway with any action directed against Russia. Therese Crowley, Fox News.

[Lisa Brady]

An emergency declared as a federal crime crackdown continues in Memphis.

[Jeff Manasso]

A surge in federal law enforcement to Memphis has Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris declaring a state of emergency, citing a strain on local resources, including the county's already overcrowded jails. There's been a 200% increase in daily arrests since the Memphis Safe Task Force arrived late last month, deployed to Memphis by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and President Trump in cooperation with Memphis Mayor Democrat Paul Young. Harris saying the declaration frees up spending rules to respond to increased arrests and detentions and is about protecting public health, safety and welfare. That the declaration will remain in place until the task force operations end.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jeff Manasso, the U.S. treasury chief, just telling reporters he's hopeful things have de escalated with China after Beijing's new rare earth export controls prompted a Trump tariff threat. Right now, stocks are heading higher. The dow is up 229 points. The S and P and the Nasdaq also in the green. And Lisa Brady, Fox News.