3AM ET 11/17/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 3AM ET 11/17/2025

Host: Ted Lindner
Date: November 17, 2025
Duration: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This Fox News Hourly Update spotlights top headlines as the U.S. approaches the busy Thanksgiving holiday period, covering the lifting of FAA flight restrictions, aftermath of a government shutdown, U.S. military actions in the Pacific, updates on Jesse Jackson’s health, Congressional dynamics post-shutdown, the resumption of Bethlehem’s Christmas festivities, and President Trump’s stance on the potential release of Jeffrey Epstein–related House files.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Air Travel Recovers After Shutdown

• [00:02–00:55]

  • The FAA ended flight restrictions placed during the recent government shutdown, aiming for normalcy before Thanksgiving.
  • Devin Truby from Fox 2 San Francisco reports that while airlines are optimistic, experts doubt a quick recovery due to unresolved staffing issues, especially among air traffic controllers.
  • SFO has seen delays/cancellations drop from the hundreds to tens over the weekend.
  • AAA reports over 20,000 delays and 600 cancellations on Sunday.
  • Peak Thanksgiving travel forecasted for the Tuesday and Wednesday before the holiday, and the Sunday after.

  Notable Quote:

  “But some experts are not sure the system can recover so quick. It depends on air traffic controllers returning to work. The number that may have retired is still unknown.”
  — Devin Truby, [00:24]

2. U.S. Military Strikes in the Pacific Raise Controversy

• [00:55–01:27]

  • The U.S. military took out another alleged drug boat, killing three in the Pacific.
  • Actions face bipartisan criticism as extrajudicial killings.
  • Congressman Rick Crawford (R–Arkansas) defends the strikes, saying President Trump designated trafficking groups as terrorist organizations, making these similar to counterterrorist operations.
  • At least 83 deaths reported in 21 strikes; Navy buildup continues in the Caribbean.

  Notable Quote:

  “The operations that are taking place against those targets are very similar to the kind of counterterrorist operations that we have seen.”
  — Rep. Rick Crawford, [01:23]

3. Jesse Jackson Hospitalized but Stable

• [01:27–01:59]
  • Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson is stable after hospitalization for a degenerative brain disorder.
  • Placed on a form of life-support following low blood pressure, he is now breathing unaided.
  • Family statement confirms stability.

4. Congressional Return: Shutdown Fallout and Healthcare Dealings

• [03:02–03:41]

  • Congress meets in full for the first time since October’s shutdown.
  • Internal Democratic rifts over reopening government without ensuring ACA tax credit extensions.
  • Discussions ongoing for a deal on healthcare, with looming year-end expiration for tax credits.

  Notable Quote:

  “Some conversations are underway on striking a deal on health care and an agreement that can pass both chambers will have to be made before the end of the year when the tax credits expire.”
  — Ryan Schmelz, [03:29]

5. Bethlehem’s Christmas Celebrations Resume Post-War

• [03:41–04:16]

  • Bethlehem restores street Christmas celebrations after two-year pause due to the Hamas-Israeli war and recent ceasefire.
  • Festivities kick off with a tree lighting in Manger Square on December 6.
  • Mayor invites visitors to “the cradle of Christianity.”

  Notable Quote:

  “We invite you to come and visit Bethlehem, the cradle of Christianity and the capital of the Christian world.”
  — Bethlehem Mayor (via Roger Stern), [04:14]

6. Trump Reverses on Release of Epstein Files

• [04:23–04:50]

  • President Trump now urges House Republicans to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein, insisting he has “nothing to hide.”
  • Democrats and some Republicans have called for greater transparency; a House vote could come this week.
  • Trump, via Truth Social, labels the controversy a “democrat hoax perpetrated by radical left lunatics.”

  Notable Quote:

  “The president saying he has nothing to hide.”
  — Fox News anchor, [04:34]
  “The controversy was a, quote, democrat hoax perpetrated by radical left lunatics.”
  — Ted Lindner quoting President Trump, [04:52]

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Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:02–00:55| FAA lifts flight restrictions; airports returning to normal | | 00:55–01:27| U.S. military strikes in Pacific; political reactions | | 01:27–01:59| Jesse Jackson health update | | 03:02–03:41| Congress reconvenes; ACA tax credit debate | | 03:41–04:16| Bethlehem resumes Christmas festivities | | 04:23–04:50| Trump urges release of Epstein files |

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Memorable Moments and Quotes

• “It depends on air traffic controllers returning to work. The number that may have retired is still unknown.”
  — Devin Truby, [00:24]
• “These operations are very similar to the kind of counterterrorist operations that we have seen.”
  — Congressman Rick Crawford, [01:23]
• “Some conversations are underway on striking a deal on health care... will have to be made before the end of the year when the tax credits expire.”
  — Ryan Schmelz, [03:29]
• “We invite you to come and visit Bethlehem, the cradle of Christianity and the capital of the Christian world.”
  — Bethlehem Mayor, [04:14]
• “The controversy was a, quote, democrat hoax perpetrated by radical left lunatics.”
  — President Trump via Ted Lindner, [04:52]

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Tone and Style

The report maintains a brisk, factual, and urgent tone typical of major network newscasts, interspersed with direct reporting from correspondents and quotes from key newsmakers. Most statements stick closely to conveying essential updates while including a few sharp political exchanges relevant to the main headlines.

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Transcript

[A]

Getting back to normal at the nation's airports. I'm Ted Lindner. FOX News. The FAA is lifting its shutdown on flight restrictions ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. More from Fox affiliate KTVU. Fox 2 San Francisco's Devin Truby who is at San Francisco International Airport with details.

[B]

Air travel is trying to get back to normal after the government shutdown caused flight reductions at 40 major airports. Airlines like American and Delta posting on social media that things are returning to normal. But some experts are not sure the system can recover so quick. It depends on air traffic controllers returning to work. The number that may have retired is still unknown. And even before the shutdown, 91% of facilities didn't have the staff they needed. At SFO, the number of delays and cancellations going from the hundreds last week to the tens this weekend. The official travel forecast for Thanksgiving comes out Monday. Peak travel days are expected to be Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after the holiday.

[A]

According to AAA, over 20,000 flights were delayed Sunday. Around 600 canceled. The US military struck down another alleged drug vote in the eastern Pacific, killing three. Both Democrats and Republicans have criticized those strikes as extrajudicial killings. Arkansas Republican Congressman Rick Crawford on fox's President Trump's work and within the law.

[C]

The president has designated these trafficking organizations as terrorist organizations. And so the operations that are taking place against those targets are these operations are very similar to the kind of counterterrorist operations that we have seen.

[A]

At least 83 people have died across 21 strikes. The Navy continues building up its presence in the Caribbean. And Jesse Jackson is reportedly in stable condition after he was admitted to a Chicago hospital last week. The 84 year old founder of the Rainbow Push coalition is under observation for a progressive degenerative brain disorder. A family source claims Sonny Jackson suffered a drop in blood pressure Saturday night and was placed on a form of life support to stabilize him. Following that report, his family releasing a statement saying that Jackson was stable and breathing without the assistance of machines. America's listening to FOX News.

[D]

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[C]

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[A]

Congress is back in session. Fox's Ryan Schmelz with a preview.

[C]

This will be the first week both chambers of be in session at the same time since the government shutdown began in October. Democrats are still dealing with the fallout of the shutdown showdown as a handful of House Democrats have criticized party leadership in the Senate after several senators who caucused with Democrats voted to reopen the government without a deal to extend the Affordable Care act tax credits. Some conversations are underway on striking a deal on health care and an agreement that can pass both chambers will have to be made before the end of the year when the tax credits expire. In Washington, Ryan Schmell's Fox News this.

[A]

Year, Christmas celebrations return to the town of Christ's birth. Fox's Roger Stern with more.

[E]

Once again, Christmas will sound more like this. Along the west bank in Bethlehem, the street celebrations were canceled for two years because of the Hamas Israeli war. But now that there's a ceasefire, Bethlehem's mayor took to Instagram to announce that festivities are returning this Christmas season. We invite you to come and visit Bethlehem, the cradle of Christianity and the.

[C]

Capital of the Christian world.

[E]

Celebrations return on December 6 with a tree lighting in Manger Square. Roger Stern, Fox News and President Trump.

[A]

Weighing in on an upcoming House vote regarding files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

[F]

President Trump making a stark reversal. He's now urging House Republicans to approve the release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The president saying he has nothing to hide. Democrats and some Republicans have been pushing for a House vote to release more files. That could happen as soon as this week. If passed, the measure will head to the Senate. It's not clear if a vote would be held in that chamber.

[A]

President Trump making a post to Truth Social stating the controversy was a, quote, democrat hoax perpetrated by radical left lunatics. I'm Ted Lindner. This is FOX News.

[G]

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