4AM ET 09/20/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update - 4AM ET 09/20/2025 Newscast

Date: September 20, 2025
Host: Debra Valentine, FOX News Podcasts

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Episode Overview

This concise newscast covers key political and national developments as of September 20, 2025. The episode’s main focus is the potential federal government shutdown and related congressional maneuvering, high-profile news about President Trump’s actions on national security and foreign affairs, and major legal and community stories making headlines across the U.S.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Looming Government Shutdown

[00:02-00:51]

• Current Situation:
  Congress left Washington without a funding agreement, risking a government shutdown with a September 30 deadline looming.
• Senate Dynamics:
  Senate Majority Leader John Thune proposes a funding extension to November 21, awaiting a vote when lawmakers return on September 29.
• Partisan Disagreements:
  • Democrats: Object to lack of healthcare provisions in the bill.
  • Republicans: Insist these provisions be debated separately; their proposal includes extensive security funding for former Trump administration officials, members of Congress, and judges.
• Notable Quote:
  “All it takes is a handful of Democrats to join the Republicans in keeping the government open and funded.”
  – Ryan Schmelz, [00:26]

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2. Trump Orders Lethal Strike on Drug Trafficking Vessel

[00:51-01:16]

• Action Taken:
  President Trump orders a “lethal kinetic strike” on a vessel suspected of international drug trafficking.
• Aftermath:
  Three killed in the strike. Trump issues a stern warning to future “narco terrorists.”
• Context:
  This announcement was made via Trump’s Truth Social platform.

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3. Community Response to the Assassination of Charlie Kirk

[01:16-01:54]

• Vigil at Utah Valley University:
  Several thousand gather for a unity vigil in honor of Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on campus the previous week.
• Legislative Response:
  Utah lawmakers are discussing ways to honor Kirk permanently, including a possible campus memorial.
• Upcoming Funeral:
  Kirk’s public funeral is scheduled at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ; tens of thousands are expected to attend.
• Notable Quote:
  “This vigil for unity was a chance for students, staff and members of the community to heal and, as one speaker put it so eloquently, find a way to see the light despite all the darkness.”
  – Claudia Cohen, [01:19]

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4. Trump’s Remarks on Russian Jets Violating NATO Airspace

[03:09-03:51]

• Incident:
  Three Russian military jets violated Estonian (NATO) airspace, sparking sharp U.S. response.
• President Trump’s Reaction:
  “I don't love it. I don't like when that happens. It could be big trouble, but I'll let you know later.”
  – President Trump, [03:22]
• International Context:
  Estonia calls the incursion “unprecedentedly brazen.” This follows an incident just over a week earlier when Russian drones entered Poland’s airspace.
• Diplomatic Efforts:
  The U.S. is “working very hard” to settle the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

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5. Legal Update: Prosecution Rests in Trump Assassination Plot Case

[03:51-04:39]

• Case Overview:
  Prosecution concludes in the trial of Ryan Ruth, accused of plotting to assassinate President Trump in 2024.
• Key Evidence:
  Testimony included receipts, surveillance, cell phone data, and a handwritten note from Ruth confessing to the attempt and soliciting others.
• Defense Plans:
  Ruth, representing himself, plans to call only three witnesses.
• Notable Quote:
  “...he wrote, this was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I'm so sorry I failed you. He goes on to offer money to someone who would be successful.”
  – Jessica Rosenthal, [04:13]

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6. Trump’s $15 Billion Defamation Case Against NYT Dismissed

[04:39-04:56]

• Legal Ruling:
  A federal judge tossed Trump’s massive defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, citing its length and “tedious and burdensome language.”
• Next Steps:
  Trump’s attorneys have 28 days to submit an amended complaint if they choose.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ryan Schmelz [00:26]:
  “All it takes is a handful of Democrats to join the Republicans in keeping the government open and funded.”

• Claudia Cohen [01:19]:
  “This vigil for unity was a chance for students, staff and members of the community to heal and, as one speaker put it so eloquently, find a way to see the light despite all the darkness.”

• President Trump [03:22]:
  “I don't love it. I don't like when that happens. It could be big trouble, but I'll let you know later.”

• Jessica Rosenthal [04:13]:
  “...he wrote, this was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I'm so sorry I failed you. He goes on to offer money to someone who would be successful.”

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Episode Highlights by Timestamp

• [00:02] — Government shutdown standoff updates from Capitol Hill
• [00:51] — Trump announces kinetic strike on drug-trafficking vessel
• [01:16] — Utah community mourns Charlie Kirk; plans for memorial
• [01:54] — Preview of Charlie Kirk’s public funeral
• [03:09] — Trump comments on Russian jets in NATO airspace
• [03:51] — Trial update: Prosecution rests in Trump assassination plot case
• [04:39] — Federal judge dismisses Trump’s defamation suit vs. NYT

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Fox News Hourly Update delivers a succinct snapshot of urgent national events, with a focus on political tension, major legal stories, security issues, and moments of community mourning and resilience.

Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

A shutdown looms. I'm Debra Valentine, Fox News. Congress is in the midst of a shutdown showdown. Fox's Ryan Schmelz has the latest from Capitol Hill.

[Ryan Schmelz]

Senators left Washington without an agreement to fund the government. With a September 30th deadline approaching. Senate Majority Leader John Thune says the Senate will vote again on a bill that would extend government funding until November 21st. When lawmakers return on September 29th. All it takes is a handful of Democrats to join the Republicans and keeping the government open and funded. Democrats have issues with a lack of health care provisions they would like to see included. Republicans say those issues should be debated separately. The GOP proposal also includes millions in security for Trump administration officials, members of Congress and judges on Capitol Hill. Ryan Schmelz, Fox News.

[Debra Valentine]

President Trump announcing another vessel trafficking drugs has been hit with a lethal kinetic strike. In a truth social post, he says he ordered the secretary of War to strike the boat in international waters. The strike killed three people, with Trump issuing a warning to future narco terrorists. Utah Valley University hosting a vigil for Charlie Kirk assassinated on the campus last week. Fox's Claudia Cohen reports from Utah.

[Claudia Cohen]

Several thousand people gathered together to share their grief as one community. This vigil for unity was a chance for students, staff and members of the community to heal and and as one speaker put it so eloquently, find a way to see the light despite all the darkness. Fox News has learned that along with a possible memorial here at the campus where Kirk was fatally shot last week, state lawmakers are discussing how Utah can honor him in a permanent way. Coming up on Sunday, the biggest memorial of all, Kirk's public funeral at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend.

[Debra Valentine]

President Trump is expected to speak. America is listening to FOX News.

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[Debra Valentine]

President Trump with a warning to Russia after Russian planes were spotted in NATO airspace.

[Kristin Goodwin]

President Trump stressing he was not pleased with reports that three Russian military jets violated Estonia's airspace.

[Claudia Cohen]

Well, I don't love it.

[Debra Valentine]

I don't love it. I don't like when that happens. It could be big trouble, but I'll let you know later.

[Kristin Goodwin]

Estonia, a NATO member, its government officials calling the move an unprecedentedly brazen incursion. This comes a little over a week after NATO planes downed Russian drones that entered Poland's airspace. With tensions already high amid the ongoing Russia, Ukraine war, President went on to say the US Is working very hard to get that conflict settled. Kristin Goodwin, FOX News.

[Debra Valentine]

The prosecution has rested its case against Ryan Ruth, who was accused of plotting to kill President Trump last year.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

The prosecution's 38th and final witness, Kimberly McGreevey, was on the stand all day, providing details about Ryan Routh's movements and purchases ahead of September 15, 2024, specifically in and around Florida. Using cell phone and surveillance footage data as well as receipts she read from his handwritten note that he'd left in North Carolina, in which he wrote, this was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I'm so sorry I failed you. He goes on to offer money to someone who would be successful. She also testified Ruth tried to pay someone to track the president's plane, asking someone on WhatsApp for a daily update. Ruth, who's representing himself, will begin presenting his week. He is only apparently planning to call three witnesses in his defense. Jessica Rosenthal, FOX News.

[Debra Valentine]

A Florida federal judge tossed out a $15 billion defamation lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump against the New York times. The judge, U.S. district Judge Stephen Mary Day, ruled the lawsuit was overly long and was full of tedious and burdensome language. Attorneys for President Trump have 28 days to file an amended complain. I'm Deborah Valentine. This is fox. Hey, I'm Trey Gowdy, host of the Trey Gatti Podcast. I hope you will join me every Tuesday and Thursday as we navigate life together and hopefully find ourselves a little bit better on the other side. Listen and follow now at foxnewspodcast. Com.