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.