4AM ET 08/25/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update - 4AM ET 08/25/2025 Newscast

Host: FOX News Podcasts (Debra Valentine)
Date: August 25, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode provides a concise roundup of major national and international news headlines as of August 25, 2025. Key stories include the debunking of active shooter hoaxes at two universities, California wildfire containment efforts, developments in U.S. crime policy, updates on the Russia-Ukraine war and international diplomacy, and warnings from Iran’s Supreme Leader regarding nuclear negotiations.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Active Shooter Hoaxes at U.S. Universities

[00:02-00:53]

• University of South Carolina Incident

  • Initial reports claimed an active shooter was present at the Thomas Cooper Library, prompting alerts for students to barricade themselves.
  • Police described the supposed suspect as “a six-foot white male with black shorts.”
  • After a secondary tactical search and review of campus security footage, authorities found no evidence—“no shell casings” and “nothing came up at all”—confirming it as a hoax.
  • (Friendi Clearvod, Fox 57 Columbia):

    “USC police telling us that they did not find any shell casings. Again, they did not find any shell casings.” [00:33]

• Villanova University Incident

  • On the same day, similar hoax active shooter reports surfaced at Villanova University in Pennsylvania.

    “An active shooter report at Villanova University in Pennsylvania on Sunday was also a hoax.” (Debra Valentine) [00:53]

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California Wildfire – Picket Fire Update

[00:53-01:48]

• Response & Air Quality Concerns
  • Only 11% containment, with 6,800 acres burned. No confirmed structural damage.
  • 1,200 firefighters are working statewide. Efforts include helicopters targeting flare-ups and ground crews reinforcing containment lines.
  • The fire threatened key agricultural assets like the Ink Grove Winery, with conditions turning volatile quickly:

    “Bone dry trees and bushes going up in flames in a matter of seconds.” (John Krenjak, Fox 2 San Francisco) [01:36]

  • Ongoing air quality warnings:

    “This thick smoke continues to billow from the picket fire. Air quality warnings have been extended.” [01:44]

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National Guard Deployments and Domestic Policy

[03:10-03:43]

• Trump Targets Major Cities
  • President Trump is considering sending National Guard troops to cities including Chicago, New York, and Baltimore “to fight crime,” drawing pushback from Democratic leaders disputing the necessity.
  • Trump threatens to withhold federal funding from Baltimore’s bridge repairs over the city’s “crime” level:

    “He is also now threatening to cut funding to rebuild Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge unless the city addresses crime.” (Griff Jenkins) [03:36]

  • In D.C., National Guard troops are “now carrying firearms.” [03:43] (Debra Valentine)

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International Updates

Russia-Ukraine War

[03:43-04:30]

• Ukraine escalates drone strikes against Russian energy, targeting “refineries and pumping stations,” reportedly driving up Russian gasoline prices.
• Russia accuses Ukraine of attacking a nuclear plant, but a resulting fire was “quickly put out.”
• Worldwide support for Ukraine’s 34th Independence Day, with messages from President Trump and Xi Jinping:

  “World leaders are showing support for Ukraine as the country celebrates its 34th Independence Day… President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping were among those delivering messages of support.” (Marianne Rafferty) [04:20]

• Prospects for a Russia-Ukraine peace summit remain uncertain—no scheduled date. [04:30]

Iran and U.S. Relations

[04:30-05:07]

• Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei declares nuclear negotiations with the U.S. "off the table," calling the disputes "unsolvable":

  “Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, with defiant words for Washington Sunday, suggesting that all nuclear negotiations are now off the table, calling issues between Iran and the US unsolvable, warning that Iran will never bow to the US in the nuclear standoff.” (Debra Valentine) [04:36]

• Khamenei endorses anti-American slogans, including those in Iran’s parliament. [04:58]

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Notable Quotes

• On Shooter Hoaxes:

  “USC police telling us that they did not find any shell casings. Again, they did not find any shell casings.”
  — Friendi Clearvod, Fox 57 Columbia [00:33]

• California Wildfire Response:

  “Bone dry trees and bushes going up in flames in a matter of seconds.”
  — John Krenjak, Fox 2 San Francisco [01:36]

• National Guard Deployments:

  “He is also now threatening to cut funding to rebuild Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge unless the city addresses crime.”
  — Griff Jenkins [03:36]

• International Tensions (Iran):

  “Issues between Iran and the US Unsolvable, warning that Iran will never bow to the US in the nuclear standoff.”
  — Debra Valentine [04:42]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Active Shooter Hoax Reports: 00:02 – 00:53
• California Wildfire Update: 00:53 – 01:48
• National Guard in U.S. Cities: 03:10 – 03:43
• Russia-Ukraine War & Global Support: 03:43 – 04:30
• Iran Nuclear Talks Halted: 04:30 – 05:07

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This newscast delivers rapid but thorough coverage of notable headlines, giving listeners a clear snapshot of national emergencies, evolving geopolitical crises, and shifts in U.S. domestic policy—all delivered in Fox News’ characteristic, fact-driven tone.

Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

Ball shooter reports. I'm Debra Valentine. FOX News reports of an active shooter at the University of South Carolina, Columbus, Sunday were a hoax. Friendi Clearvod of Fox 57 in Columbia, South Carolina reports.

[Friendi Clearvod]

At about 6:30 USCPD received a report of gunfire just inside the Thomas Cooper Library. Now after that an alert was issued telling students to barricade and to protect themselves. At one point another alert came in saying that it was believed that the shooter was a six foot white male with black shorts. USC police telling us that they did not find any shell casings. Again, they did not find any shell casings. At one point there was a secondary search at the library with a tactical team. Authorities also check for videos around campus for any evidence and they tell us nothing came up at all.

[Debra Valentine]

An active shooter report at Villanova University in Pennsylvania on Sunday was also a hoax. On only 11% of California's picket fire has been contained so far. A report from KTVU, Fox 2 San Francisco's John Krenjak.

[John Krenjak]

1200 firefighters from across the state surging into the fire zone. Crews rushing to contain what's known as a fire whirl, using helicopters to hit the flames from above. Others tackling flare ups along the edge of the fire zone, using hoses to shore up containment lines to make sure they hold. At the Ink Grove Winery, the flames were just a few feet away from the grapes. One after another we watched bone dry trees and bushes going up in flames in a matter of seconds. This thick smoke continues to billow from the picket fire. Air quality warnings have been extended.

[Debra Valentine]

The fire has burned at least 6,800 acres so far. Cal Fire says no confirmation of damage to structures. America's listening to Fox News.

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[Debra Valentine]

President Trump is setting his sights on other major U.S. cities to send National Guard troops, too. It's part of his efforts to crack down on crime and illegal immigration. Fox's Griff Jenkins has more President Trump.

[Griff Jenkins]

Is threatening to send National Guard troops to more cities to fight crime. They reportedly include Chicago, New York and Baltimore. Democratic leaders there say his claims of high crime don't match the facts. The president is also now threatening to cut funding to rebuild Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge unless the city addresses crime. Guard troops are already in our nation's capital.

[Debra Valentine]

A Pentagon official says those troops in Washington, D.C. are now carrying firearms. Ukraine's war with Russia rages on as the country marked 34 years of independence. Fox's Marianne Rafferty has the latest.

[Marianne Rafferty]

Ukraine is stepping up attacks against Russian energy facilities. Kyiv is using drones to strike refineries and pumping stations, part of an effort to hurt Russia's war machine. And their efforts appear to be working. Gasoline prices are soaring across the country. Russia is also accusing Ukraine of launching attacks on a nuclear power plant. Officials say it sparked a fire that was quickly put out. Meantime, world leaders are showing support for Ukraine as the country celebrates its 34th Independence Day from the Soviet Union. President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping were among those delivering messages of support.

[Debra Valentine]

President Trump continues to try and bring Russia and Ukraine together for a summit to discuss peace, but the summit doesn't have a date. Iran's leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, with defiant words for Washington Sunday, suggesting that all nuclear negotiations are now off the table, calling issues between Iran and the US Unsolvable, warning that Iran will never bow to the US in the nuclear standoff. Khomeini also defending his freezing nuke talks and the use of anti American slogans being chanted around Iran, including in Iran's parliament. I'm Debra Valentine. This is Fox News.

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