2PM ET 10/18/2025 Newscast - Fox News Hourly Update

Summary4 min read

Fox News Hourly Update – 2PM ET, October 18, 2025

Main Theme:
A roundup of top political stories including nationwide protests against President Trump, the ongoing government shutdown, heightened partisanship in Congress, security incidents involving Republican lawmakers, international developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and a surprise commutation by President Trump.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Nationwide "No Kings" Rallies Push Back Against President Trump

Cities affected: Demonstrations in Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Portland, Chicago, and Times Square, New York.
Rally sentiment: Protesters oppose President Trump's use of executive power, responding particularly to federal agents’ presence in cities and alleged civil rights abuses.
- Quote (00:23):
  - B: "Show me what democracy looks like."
  - C: "This is what democracy looks like."
Political reactions:
- Democrats like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer are expected to join.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson criticizes the protests and Democrats' involvement.
- Independent Senator Bernie Sanders defends the rallies, citing constitutional values.
- Schumer urges peaceful demonstrations, though some previous rallies in June led to violence and arrests.
- Quote (00:30):
  - D (Madeline Rivera): “They are targeting immigrant families, profiling, arresting, and detaining people without warrants... Schumer is urging protesters to march peacefully.”

The Government Shutdown Grinds On

Political maneuvering:
- Speaker Johnson keeps House lawmakers in their districts, pressuring Schumer to act.
- Senate scheduled 11th vote on a clean funding bill Monday at 5:30pm.
- If the Senate agrees, the House must return for a vote.
Partisan tensions escalate:
- Hakeem Jeffries (Dem leader) rebukes Press Secretary Caroline Levitt after she claims Democrats are comprised of “Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals.”
- (01:17-01:53): Summary of stalemate, sharp rhetoric escalates division.

Security Threats Toward GOP Lawmakers

Incident: Multiple GOP offices, including Congressman Mike Kennedy of Utah, are targeted by mailings—American flags altered with Nazi swastikas.
- Quote (02:24):
  - G (Ben Winslow): "He tells me an intern in the office received it. Didn’t look closely at it enough to know what it was, but a staffer did and they immediately contacted Capitol Police."
- Quote (02:41):
  - H (Mike Kennedy): “It’s a corrupted American flag with the Nazi swastika right in the middle of this flag...we reported that to Capitol Police.”
Response: Capitol Police are investigating the origin of the mailings. Incident highlights rising political vitriol and security concerns.

Russia-Ukraine Peace Negotiations: Trump Positions Himself as Peacemaker

Diplomatic meetings: President Trump meets with President Zelensky of Ukraine and speaks with President Putin of Russia.
- Trump expresses optimism about ending the war, proposing both sides “stop where they are, let both claim victory and let history decide.” (03:11-03:25)
- Quote (03:19):
  - J (President Trump): “It'll be a great honor to get it done. And the Ukrainian people are great and the Russian people are great.”
- Trump and Putin to hold a summit in Hungary later this month.
- Analyst insight: Trump’s approach is transactional—aimed at halting the conflict, allowing both sides symbolic wins.

Presidential Commutation of George Santos’ Sentence

Background: George Santos, former NY Representative, convicted for fraud and identity theft, sentenced in April 2025 to over seven years.
Action: President Trump commutes his sentence.
- Details: Santos admitted stealing donors’ identities—including family members—to benefit his campaign.
Significance: The move shocks political watchers, indicating Trump’s continued use of executive clemency powers.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Protest Slogan Exchange (00:23)
- B: "Show me what democracy looks like."
- C: "This is what democracy looks like."
Reporter on Street-Level Fears (00:30)
- D (Madeline Rivera): “...Sending masked agents into our streets, terrorizing our communities.”
GOP Lawmaker Reacts to Threatening Mail (02:41)
- H (Mike Kennedy): "It's a corrupted American flag with the Nazi swastika right in the middle of this flag."
Trump Urges Peace in Ukraine (03:19)
- J (President Trump): "It’ll be a great honor to get it done. And the Ukrainian people are great and the Russian people are great."
Summary of Press Secretary’s Controversial Statement (01:53)
- E: “…Democratic Party is made up of, quote, Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens and violent criminals.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

National Protests Against Trump: 00:02–01:07
Exclusive Interview Plug & Shutdown Update: 01:07–01:53
Security Incident with Nazi-Flag Mailings: 02:16–03:05
Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks: 03:05–03:47
Commutation of George Santos’ Sentence: 03:47–End

Overall Tone and Takeaways

The episode delivers a punchy, urgent, and partisan-tinged news update, reflecting the tense state of American politics in late 2025.
Political divisions are underscored by both street protests and inflammatory rhetoric on Capitol Hill.
Security concerns for lawmakers and global diplomatic efforts by President Trump highlight a volatile, high-stakes environment.
The commutation of George Santos showcases Trump’s controversial approach to loyalty and executive power.

Listeners receive a comprehensive snapshot of a country in political flux, marked by civic pushback, institutional gridlock, and unpredictable leadership on the world stage.

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Transcript18 lines

[00:02]
A
Pushback against President Trump spilling into the streets. I'm Angelo Bavaro, Fox News. Thousands of no Kings rallies are being held across several major cities, including LA, D.C. portland and Chicago. One of those events also happening in Times Square.
[00:24]
B
Show me what democracy looks like.
[00:26]
C
This is what democracy looks like.
[00:28]
A
Fox's Madeline Rivera.
[00:30]
D
A statement from the event's website states, since June, President Trump has doubled down. His administration is sending masked agents into our streets, terrorizing our communities. They are targeting immigrant families, profiling, arresting and detaining people without warrants. Several Democrats are expected to participate, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. House Speaker Mike Johnson is slamming the event and Democrats for taking part. But independent Senator Bernie Sanders says the rally is upholding the values of the Constitution. Schumer is urging protesters to march peacefully. Most of the demonstrations at the first Snow Kings rally in June were peaceful, but a handful did erupt into violence, leading to several arrests.
[01:08]
A
In an exclusive interview on Sunday morning Futures airing on Fox tomorrow, President Trump says that he is no king. The government shutdown drags on.
[01:17]
E
Speaker Johnson once again ordered House lawmakers to remain in their districts next week. That move is aimed at putting pressure on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Meanwhile, the Senate is scheduled to take its 11th vote on the House passed clean continuing resolution to fund the government at 5:30pm Monday. If that bill were to pass the Senate, then Speaker Johnson would have to call back the House in order to vote. And in another D.C. spat, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries slammed White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt after she said the Democratic Party is made up of, quote, Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens and violent criminals.
[01:53]
A
Fox's Matt Finn America's listening to Fox News.
[01:59]
F
It's Will Kane, Country. Watch it live at noon Eastern Monday through Thursday@fox news.com or on the Fox News YouTube channel. And don't miss the show. Listen and follow the podcast five days a week at Fox newspodcasts.com or wherever you download your favorite podcasts.
[02:16]
A
A Utah Republican becomes the latest of several GOP lawmakers being targeted by somebody sending American flags with Nazi symbols on them.
[02:25]
G
Congressman Mike Kennedy confirms to me his office did receive one of those modified American flags in the form of a Nazi swastika. He tells me an intern in the office received it. Didn't look closely at it enough to know what it was, but a staffer did and they immediately contacted Capitol Police.
[02:42]
H
It's a corrupted American flag with the Nazi swastika right in the middle of this flag. And of course, we not only immediately took them down from the desk and we I took a picture myself and we reported that to Capitol Police.
[02:55]
G
Other Republican congressional representatives have reported receiving the flags, too. We are told Capitol Police continue to investigate the origins of those flags. In Salt Lake City, Ben Winslow, Fox News.
[03:06]
A
President Trump is once again pushing for a peace plan following talks with Russian and Ukrainian leaders.
[03:12]
I
Sitting across the table from President Volodymyr Zelensky, President Trump expressed optimism the war in Ukraine could soon end.
[03:19]
J
It'll be a great honor to get it done. And the Ukrainian people are great and the Russian people are great.
[03:26]
I
The president spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for more than two hours on Thursday. Thursday, both leaders agreeing to a summit later this month in Hungary. On his social media page, President Trump says both sides need to come to an agreement. Stop where they are, let both claim victory and let history decide. At the White House, Jared Halpern, Fox News.
[03:47]
A
President Trump has commuted the sentence of former U.S. representative George Santos. The New York Republican was sentenced in April after admitting last year to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of 11 people, including including his own family members to make donations to his campaign. Santos was serving more than seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud and identity theft charges. I'm Angelo Bavaro and this is FOX News.