4AM ET 07/04/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update

Host/Author: Fox News Radio
Episode: 4AM ET 07/04/2025 Newscast
Release Date: July 4, 2025

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1. Presidential Signature on Mega Tax and Spending Cuts Bill

[00:02] Carmen Roberts opens the broadcast with a festive note on the nation's 249th birthday, highlighting President Trump's plan to sign a significant legislative bill. Jared Halpern reports on the narrow approval of the mega tax and spending cuts bill by both the House and Senate. The White House has scheduled a signing ceremony for 5 PM.

Key Points:

• Administration's Fulfillment of Campaign Promises: The bill includes the extension of tax cuts from President Trump's first term, capping taxes on tips and overtime, and a substantial increase in funding for border enforcement.
• Democratic Opposition: Democrats contend that the bill's Medicaid cuts will disenroll millions of Americans from health insurance coverage.

Notable Quote:

“The bill makes good, the administration says on several key campaign promises,”
— Jared Halpern [00:15]

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2. Record-Breaking Fourth of July Travel

Carmen Roberts transitions to travel news, citing AAA's predictions for unprecedented travel this Fourth of July. Marie McNichol elaborates that for the first time in over a decade, the holiday falls on a Friday, contributing to an estimated 72 million travelers breaking previous records.

Key Points:

• Increased Travel Demand: Approximately one million more travelers are expected compared to previous years.
• Travel Mode Highlights: Road and air travelers are both seeing significant increases.
• Advice from Experts: Travelers are advised to "pack your patience" due to the high volume.

Notable Quote:

“Travel experts are telling people, pack your patience.”
— Marie McNichol [00:56]

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3. Gas Prices See Decrease

Carmen Roberts reports on a welcome development at the pump. AAA announces that the national average gas price has dropped to $3.15 per gallon, a decrease of 36 cents from the previous year. California holds the highest average at $5.83 per gallon, while Mississippi records the lowest at $2.52.

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4. U.S. Northern Command Deploys Marines to Florida

Carmen Roberts provides updates on national security, noting that approximately 200 Marines are being sent to Florida to support ICE agents. Gernall Scott clarifies that these troops will assist without direct engagement in detainee custody or capture operations.

Notable Quote:

“While they will support ICE efforts, these troops will not be allowed to engage directly with detainees or their capture.”
— Gernall Scott [01:39]

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5. Stock Market Reaches Record Highs

Carmen Roberts highlights a bullish day in the financial markets, with both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ closing at record highs. She notes that due to the holiday, markets will remain closed today.

Notable Quote:

“With the S&P 500 and NASDAQ closing at record highs, markets will be closed today.”
— Carmen Roberts [01:48]

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6. Supreme Court to Review Transgender Athlete Bans

Carmen Roberts shifts to judicial news, announcing that the Supreme Court has agreed to hear challenges against state bans on transgender athletes in women’s sports. David Spunt provides details, mentioning that cases from Idaho and West Virginia will be consolidated, with arguments expected this fall.

Key Points:

• Consolidation of Cases: The Supreme Court will review a lower court decision that struck down West Virginia’s ban on transgender athlete Becky Pepper Jackson.
• Implications for Future Legislation: The decision could have nationwide effects on similar state-level bans.

Notable Quote:

“The justices agreed to review a lower court ruling which found a West Virginia law banning transgender athlete Becky Pepper Jackson from competing violated her rights.”
— David Spunt [03:14]

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7. Career Criminal and Powerball Winner Faces Legal Troubles

Carmen Roberts reports on a dramatic turn of events involving a $167 million Powerball winner, James Shannon Farthing, who may be returning to prison. Gary Baumgarten details Farthing’s arrest in Florida three days after claiming his jackpot, citing violence against a deputy and parole violations.

Key Points:

• Criminal History: Farthing has a 30-year prison record.
• Legal Issues: Arrested for assaulting law enforcement and violating parole by leaving Kentucky without permission.
• Financial Impact: While he managed to pay bail with some of his winnings, the uncertainty remains regarding his ability to retain the jackpot.

Notable Quote:

“He may never get the chance to spend it.”
— Gary Baumgarten [03:31]

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8. The Mystery of the Velvet Sundown Band

Carmen Roberts introduces a fascinating story about an indie band, The Velvet Sundown, that has rapidly gained popularity online but may not exist in reality. Eben Brown explores how the band's highly stylized photos and compelling music are possibly the creations of advanced AI technologies.

Key Points:

• Digital Illusion: The band's images appear highly airbrushed or digitally created.
• AI's Role in Music Creation: Tools like Suno can generate full songs from text prompts, raising questions about authenticity in the music industry.
• Implications for Artists and Fans: Challenges in distinguishing real artists from AI-generated personas.

Notable Quote:

“The matter is highlighting the ease by which AI based apps like Suno can create full songs based on a text prompt.”
— Eben Brown [04:17]

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Closing Remarks

Carmen Roberts wraps up the update, reminding listeners of the comprehensive coverage provided by Fox News. Janice Dean offers a preview of her segment focusing on stories of hope and inspirational community figures, inviting listeners to tune in every Sunday.

Notable Quote:

“Join me every Sunday as I focus on stories of hope and people who are truly rays of sunshine in their community and across the world.”
— Janice Dean [05:05]

Final Note: David Spunt encourages audience engagement by directing listeners to follow the podcast at foxnewspodcast.com.

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Stay informed with the latest updates and in-depth analysis by tuning into Fox News Radio’s Hourly Update.

Transcript

[Carmen Roberts]

A big, beautiful birthday celebration. I'm Carmen Roberts, Fox News. President Trump will mark the country's 249th birthday by putting his signature on his just approved big beautiful bill before the.

[Jared Halpern]

Fireworks light up the July 4th sky here in Washington. President Trump plans to sign the mega tax and spending cuts bill narrowly approved by the House and Senate this week. White House press secretary Caroline Levitt says a signing ceremony is set for 5pm the bill makes good, the administration, administration says on several key campaign promises, including extending tax cuts implemented during the president's first term, capping taxes on tips and overtime and significantly increasing border enforcement funding. Democrats argue Medicaid cuts will drive millions of Americans off health insurance. At the White House, Jared Halpern, FOX News.

[Carmen Roberts]

AAA says a record number of people are likely to travel this Fourth of.

[Marie McNichol]

July holiday for the first time in over a decade. The Fourth of July lands on a Friday this year, about a million more travelers heading out the door breaking records. Over 72 million people will be hitting the roads and skies no matter the mode of transportation travel experts are telling people, pack your patience. In Miami Data. Marie McNichol, Fox News.

[Carmen Roberts]

And drivers will get a break at the pump this year. Triple A says the national average for gas is 315A gallon. That's 36 cents less than last year. The highest average is 583. And Mono County, California, the lowest 252. And Simpson County, Mississippi. U.S. northern Command is sending about 200 Marines to Florida to help ICE agents.

[Gernall Scott]

While they will support ICE efforts, these troops will not be allowed to engage directly with detainees or their capture. Gernall scott, FOX NEWS.

[Carmen Roberts]

And a strong day on the markets. With the S&P 500 and NASDAQ closing at record highs, markets will be closed today. America is listening to FOX News.

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[Carmen Roberts]

Fox News the Supreme Court agrees to hear a challenge to state bans on transgender athletes in women's sports.

[David Spunt]

Two separate cases from Idaho and West Virginia will be consolidated into one, with the justices likely hearing arguments this fall. The justices agreed to review a lower court ruling which found a West Virginia law banning transgender athlete Becky Pepper Jackson from competing violated her rights.

[Carmen Roberts]

Fox's David Spont, a $167 million Powerball winner, is exposed as a career criminal and may be headed back to prison.

[Gary Baumgarten]

50 year old James Shannon Farthing, who spent 30 years in prison, won the largest jackpot in Kentucky lottery history, but he may never get the chance to spend it. Arrested in Florida for punching someone and kicking a deputy three days after cashing in the winning with his mom and girlfriend, he's also in trouble with his parole officer for leaving Kentucky without permission. He did get to spend some of the winnings to cover his bail. Gary Baumgarten, FOX NEWS that song you.

[Carmen Roberts]

Heard from a new band you just discovered may not even be real.

[Eben Brown]

An indie band amassing hundreds of thousands of streams on Spotify seems to be getting quite the following. But while the Velvet Sundown released two albums of their melodic, emotional rock, the they might not even be real, nobody seems to know for sure. Photos of the band look highly airbrushed or even conjured up as digital art. The matter is highlighting the ease by which AI based apps like Suno can create full songs based on a text prompt. A user can ask for a ballad based on one's resume in classic country or create a freestyle and hip hop greeting card like ode to one's spouse, all in mere seconds. Eben Brown, FOX News and I'm Carmen.

[Carmen Roberts]

Roberts and this is FOX News.

[Janice Dean]

I'm Janice Dean. Join me every Sunday as I focus on stories of hope and people who are truly rays of sunshine in their community and across the world.

[David Spunt]

Listen and follow [e-mail].