3AM ET 11/18/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update — 3AM ET 11/18/2025 Newscast

Host: Ted Lindner (FOX News Podcasts)
Date: November 18, 2025
Duration: ~5 minutes (excluding ads)

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Episode Overview

This Fox News Hourly Update covers several pressing national headlines: a Congressional vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files, fallout from the Larry Summers-Epstein email revelations, a targeted immigration crackdown in North Carolina, ongoing U.S. involvement in the Gaza ceasefire, new directions for the Department of Health and Human Services, and the abrupt departure of FEMA’s acting chief. The tone is fast, direct, and focused on breaking developments.

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Key Topics and Discussion Points

1. Push to Release Jeffrey Epstein Files

[00:02–01:20]

• Congressional Action: The House is set to vote on a bill that would compel the Justice Department to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
• Presidential Influence: President Trump openly backs the bill on Truth Social, urging his party to vote in favor, arguing Republicans have “nothing to hide.”
• Legal Hurdles:
  • James Comer (House Oversight Chair):

    "They've released what they can legally release. There's grand jury testimony. And the Trump administration asked a judge to release that grand jury testimony. And the judge, who was an Obama appointee, rejected the Trump Department of Justice request..." ([00:19])

• House Procedure: A discharge petition — signed by all House Democrats and some Republicans — forces a floor vote.
• Bipartisan Stance:
  • Speaker Mike Johnson:

    "He's never had anything to hide. He and I had the same concern that we wanted to ensure that victims of his crimes are completely protected from disclosure." ([00:56])

• Next Steps: If the resolution passes the House, Senate approval will be required.

Notable Quotes

• Donald Trump (via reporting):

  "[Republicans have] nothing to hide." ([00:44])

• James Comer:

  "A judge has to issue that." ([00:35])

• Mike Johnson:

  "We wanted to ensure that victims of his crimes are completely protected from disclosure." ([00:58])

2. Larry Summers Steps Back After Epstein Emails

[01:20–01:37]

• Fallout From Revelations: Former Treasury Secretary and Harvard President Larry Summers is withdrawing from public commitments, following the release of emails between him and Epstein.
• Public Statement: Summers says he's "deeply ashamed of his actions and recognizes the pain they've caused."

3. ‘Operation Charlotte’s Web’ — DHS Immigration Crackdown | Charlotte, NC

[01:37–01:55]

• Target: Operation targets undocumented immigrants in Charlotte with a history of violent or dangerous crimes.
• DHS Secretary Kristi Noem:

  "We're using the investigative cases that we've built on these individuals in that area to go out after the worst of the worst. We're going after people who've committed robberies, assaults, DUIs." ([01:44])

4. U.S. Role in Gaza Ceasefire

[03:38–04:08]

• Military Coordination: U.S. Central Command is helping uphold the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas by overseeing coordination among international forces.
• No U.S. “Boots on the Ground”: Americans will coordinate a stabilization force but not deploy troops.
• Humanitarian Aid:
  • Ensuring delivery to Palestinian civilians.
• Correspondent Trey Yingst:

  "The role of the Americans in part will be to coordinate the international stabilization force that ultimately will enter Gaza, but there will be no U.S. boots on the ground." ([03:45])

5. HHS Shifts Focus to Environmental and Food Toxins

[04:08–05:06]

• Changing Priorities: The Health and Human Services Department broadens focus beyond infectious disease to chronic illnesses tied to toxins in foods and vaccines.
• Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.:

  "How come food allergies barely existed 30 years ago?" ([04:25])

  • Connects rise of peanut allergies to increase in aluminum since 1989.

    "The increase of aluminum is in lockstep, which began in 1989, with the expansion of peanut allergies." ([04:39])

• Food Regulation: HHS now requiring companies to prove food ingredients, like petroleum, are safe or will be removed. Many U.S. food ingredients are illegal in Europe.

6. FEMA Turmoil — Acting Chief Resigns

[05:06–05:34]

• Leadership Instability: Acting FEMA Chief David Richardson resigns after six months amid staff departures and criticism for handling Texas floods.
• Background: Richardson replaced Cameron Hamilton in May and was largely out of public view during his tenure.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• James Comer (Epstein Files): “They've released what they can legally release... a judge has to issue that.” ([00:19-00:35])
• Mike Johnson (Victims’ Protection): “We wanted to ensure that victims of his crimes are completely protected from disclosure.” ([00:56])
• Kristi Noem (Immigration Enforcement): “We're going after people who've committed robberies, assaults, DUIs.” ([01:44])
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (HHS pivot): “How come food allergies barely existed 30 years ago?” ([04:25])
• Trey Yingst (Gaza): “But there will be no U.S. boots on the ground.” ([03:53])

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Timestamps for Segment Reference

• Epstein Files Congressional Action: [00:02–01:20]
• Larry Summers/Epstein Fallout: [01:20–01:37]
• DHS Operation Charlotte’s Web: [01:37–01:55]
• U.S. Role in Gaza Ceasefire: [03:38–04:08]
• HHS on Chronic Illness & Food Safety: [04:08–05:06]
• FEMA Acting Chief Resigns: [05:06–05:34]

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Summary

This tightly packed Fox News update delivers the day’s top stories ranging from Congressional transparency efforts and fallout from powerful elite’s Epstein ties, to government crackdowns on criminal migrants, U.S. foreign policy in a volatile Gaza, shifting federal health agency priorities, and leadership churn in federal disaster response. The tone is brisk and informative, with a focus on political and policy implications.

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Transcript

[A]

Trying to get more Epstein files released. I'm Ted Lindner, FOX News. Congress could vote today on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files. The House planning to vote on a bill to have the Justice Department release the files. President Trump on Truth Social said he wants the Epstein files disclosed. Kentucky Congressman and House Oversight Chairman James Comer reacting.

[B]

They've released what they can legally release. There's grand jury testimony. And the Trump administration asked a judge to release that grand jury testimony. And the judge, who was an Obama appointee, rejected the Trump Department of Justice request to release the grand jury testimony. So a judge has to issue that.

[A]

Fox's Ryan Schmelz has more on the planned vote in Congress to release the files.

[C]

President Trump is urging Republicans to vote in favor of a resolution that would compel the release of the Epstein files, saying members of his party have, quote, nothing to hide. House Speaker Mike Johnson agrees.

[D]

He's never had anything to hide. He and I had the same concern that we wanted to ensure that victims of his crimes are completely protected from disclosure.

[C]

A discharge petition signed by all House Democrats and some Republicans forced the resolution to the floor. The House could vote today. And if it passes, the Senate will still have to vote on the resolution. On Capitol Hill, Ryan Schmelz, FOX News.

[A]

Meantime, former Treasury Secretary and Harvard President Larry Summers announcing he's stepping back from all public commitments following the recent release of emails between him and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Summers say on Monday he's deeply ashamed of his actions and recognizes the pain they've caused. The latest on the immigration operation in Charlotte, North Carolina, known as Operation Charlotte's Web. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem says they're targeting illegals with a history of crime in Charlotte.

[E]

We're using the investigative cases that we've built on these individuals in that area to go out after the worst of the worst. We're going after people who've committed robberies, assaults, DUIs.

[A]

America's listening to Fox News.

[F]

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[A]

The US helping unpold the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza fox's Trey Inkst at the Civil Military Coordination center.

[G]

With more U.S. central Command is overseeing the Gaza ceasefire along with representatives from a variety of other countries. The role of the Americans in part will be to coordinate the international stabilization force that ultimately will enter Gaza, but there will be no U.S. boots on the ground. U.S. central Command here at this facility is also ensuring that humanitarian aid is making it to Palestinian civilians.

[A]

This is Cold temperatures and heavy rain make life more complicated for Palestinians in Gaza amid the famine. The Department of Health and Human Services says the era of public health agencies only focusing on infectious diseases is over. Fox's Jeff Bonasso has more on this.

[H]

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. With a basic question, how come food allergies barely existed 30 years ago? The department now targeting toxins in our foods and vaccines as the likely culprit to chronic illness like peanut allergies.

[D]

The increase of aluminum is in lockstep, which began in 1989, which is in lockstep with the expansion of peanut allergies.

[H]

The Department of Health has also begun forcing companies to prove food ingredients like petroleum are safe or to remove them. The US currently has about 10,000 ingredients in our foods, most of which are illegal in Europe. Jeff Manasso, Fox News and the acting.

[A]

Chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or fema, left his job on Monday after just six months. This according to the Department of Homeland Security, the latest disruption in a year of mass staff departures, program cuts and policy upheaval at the agency charged with managing federal disaster response. David Richardson, who's in his brief term remained largely out of public sight, leaving the post after he faced a wave of critical for his handling of the deadly Texas floods in July. He replaced previous acting head Cameron Hamilton in May. I'm Ted Lindner. This is FOX News.

[I]

It's Will Kane 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.