Fox News Hourly Update – Detailed Summary
Episode: 4AM ET 07/19/2025 Newscast
Release Date: July 19, 2025
Host/Author: FOX News Podcasts
Tragic Explosion Kills Three Veteran Deputies in East Los Angeles
Timestamp: [00:02] - [00:48]
The podcast opens with a somber report from Debra Valentine about a devastating incident in East Los Angeles. Three seasoned deputies from Los Angeles County lost their lives due to an explosion at the Biscaluse Center Training Academy.
Key Details:
- Location & Time: The explosion occurred around 7:30 AM in the parking lot of the training facility.
- Circumstances: Deputies were handling explosives when the blast took place.
- Significance: The sheriff described this tragedy as the deadliest incident at the agency in over a century.
- Additional Context: Construction workers discovered grenades in a personal storage unit owned by a former tenant at a Santa Monica location on Wednesday. The bomb squad was subsequently deployed, revealing that the grenades were interconnected.
Notable Quote:
"Combined, the deputies have at least 74 years of experience." — Sheriff [00:14]
An ongoing investigation aims to determine the exact cause of the explosion.
Justice Department Seeks to Unseal Epstein Grand Jury Transcripts
Timestamp: [00:48] - [01:40]
Debra Valentine transitions to a high-profile legal matter involving Jeffrey Epstein. The Justice Department is pushing to make grand jury transcripts from the Epstein sex trafficking case public.
Key Points:
- Legal Action: A motion has been filed requesting a federal judge to unseal the transcripts.
- Trump Administration's Stance: The administration claims the Epstein case holds significant public interest but asserts there’s insufficient evidence to charge additional individuals.
- Background: In 2019, Epstein faced an indictment for sex trafficking but died by suicide a month later, leading to the dismissal of the charges posthumously. His partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted in 2021 and is serving a 20-year sentence.
Notable Quote:
"President Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of grand jury records following backlash and criticism over the Justice Department's handling of the case." — Jared Halpern [00:59]
Venezuela Releases U.S. Citizens in Exchange for Migrant Deportations
Timestamp: [01:40] - [01:59]
Debra Valentine reports on a significant diplomatic exchange between the United States and Venezuela.
Key Highlights:
- Release: Venezuela has freed 10 U.S. citizens and permanent residents, allowing them to return home.
- Counteraction: In exchange, the U.S. has deported numerous migrants to El Salvador, a move rooted in the Trump administration's stringent immigration policies.
President Trump Signs Legislation Supporting Bitcoin and Rescinds Federal Funding
Timestamp: [03:08] - [04:17]
Rich Edson covers President Trump's legislative actions, highlighting two major bills signed into law.
Support for Cryptocurrency:
- Legislation: A bipartisan bill known as the "Genius Act" was signed, regulating a specific type of cryptocurrency called stablecoins.
- Context: Tulsi Gabbard emphasizes the bipartisan nature of this legislation.
Notable Quote:
"The Genius Act passed the House in the early hours. It regulates a type of cryptocurrency called stablecoins." — Tulsi Gabbard [03:23]
Rescinding Federal Funding:
- Funding Cuts: The bill also rescinds $9 billion in federal funding allocated to public media (including PBS and NPR) and foreign aid.
- Political Reactions: Post-vote, President Trump criticized the expenditure, labeling public broadcasting as wasteful.
Notable Quote:
"House approves $9 billion cuts package, including atrocious NPR and public broadcasting where billions of dollars a year were wasted." — President Trump [03:55]
Democratic Response:
- Democrats are vehemently opposed to these funding cuts, arguing that they undermine crucial public services and international support mechanisms.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard Declassifies Documents on 2016 Election Investigations
Timestamp: [04:17] - [05:05]
Switching to intelligence and national security, Tulsi Gabbard makes headlines by declassifying documents related to the Obama administration's investigations into Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. elections.
Key Insights:
- Allegations: Gabbard claims that key intelligence assessing Russia's role was manipulated and withheld from the public.
- Intelligence Findings: The intelligence community had determined that Russia had no significant impact on influencing the election.
- Suppression Claims: According to Gabbard, FBI Director James Comey intended to dissent from the draft conclusions based on new directives. High-ranking officials, including CIA Director John Brennan and Secretary of State John Kerry, allegedly reviewed and suppressed these findings at the White House.
- Request for Investigation: Gabbard is urging the Justice Department to investigate the validity and handling of these documents.
Notable Quote:
"The intel community had assessed that Russia played no significant role in influencing our election." — Tulsi Gabbard [04:17]
Russia has consistently denied any involvement in election interference.
Interactive Segment: "Take the Quiz"
Timestamp: [05:05] - [05:17]
The podcast wraps up with an interactive segment encouraging listeners to participate in a quick five-question quiz. Participants are invited to join in on the street in New York City and share their results.
Note: Advertisements and non-content segments, such as promotional material for NetSuite by Oracle, were excluded from this summary to focus solely on the newsworthy topics discussed in the episode.