4AM ET 10/17/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: 4AM ET 10/17/2025

Date: October 17, 2025
Host: Sue Guzman (FOX News Podcasts)
Episode Overview:
This episode delivers a tightly packed, fast-paced update on the latest national and international headlines as of early morning October 17, 2025. Major topics include President Trump’s diplomatic initiatives on Ukraine and Russia, the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, New York and California political moves, the indictment of John Bolton, a heated NYC mayoral debate, and the passing of rock legend Ace Frehley.

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1. Ukraine War & U.S. Diplomacy

• Trump-Zelenskyy Meeting at the White House

  • President Trump meets with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in hopes of mediating peace, referencing his past success in de-escalating global conflicts.
  • Kevin Cork reporting:
    • "The hope, of course, is that the president will do for Russia and Ukraine what he did for Israel and Gaza and seven other global conflicts. Stop the killing." [00:12]
    • Zelenskyy expresses skepticism: “Russia's true readiness for peace lies not in Putin's never been short of those, but in actually ceasing the strikes and killings.”
    • U.S. considering everything from peace talks to the sale of NATO-compatible Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.

• Upcoming Trump-Putin Meeting

  • President Trump plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary in two weeks, following a phone call between the leaders.

Notable Moment:

• Direct skepticism voiced by Zelenskyy about Russian intentions for peace, emphasizing action over rhetoric.

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2. U.S. Government Shutdown Continues

• Update on Shutdown Progress

  • 17th day of the federal government shutdown.
  • A GOP stopgap measure fails in the Senate for the 10th time.
  • Key sticking point: Democratic insistence on including Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) tax credit/subsidy extensions.

• Senate Majority Leader John Thune's Move

  • Guarantees Democrats a vote on extending Obamacare credits.
  • Doubts remain if this will be sufficient to break the Senate filibuster.

• Republican Perspective (Speaker D):

  • “It's a question of whether or not they're willing to take yes for an answer. I mean, that's, I don't know what more we can offer him.” [01:24]

• Next Steps

  • Senate won’t vote again until Monday.
  • Tax credits scheduled to expire at year-end.

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3. California Politics: Pelosi’s Seat

• Scott Weiner’s Expected Congressional Run
  • California State Senator Scott Weiner is reportedly preparing a run for Nancy Pelosi’s congressional seat, as the longtime representative has yet to announce her re-election decision.
  • Source: San Francisco Standard [01:35]

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4. John Bolton Indicted

• Details on Indictment

  • John Bolton, National Security Adviser during Trump’s first term and now a critic, indicted for allegedly storing classified documents at home.

• Attorney Statement:

  • Reporter David Spunt:
    • Bolton’s lawyer, Abby Lowell, confirms Bolton had classified documents but claims they were cleared for book publication. [03:23]

• Content of Seized Documents

  • Include topics such as weapons of mass destruction, U.S. strategic communications, and material on the UN mission.

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5. NYC Mayoral Debate: Sparks Fly

• Three-Way Showdown

  • Democratic Socialist Zoran Mamdani, former NY Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa debate key issues, especially crime and past COVID-19 policies.

• Key Exchanges:

  • Mamdani attacks Cuomo:
    • On Cuomo’s nursing home decisions: "If it was safety that President Trump was so concerned about, he would send them to the 8 out of 10 states that have the highest levels of crime in this country. But he won't because they're all run by Republicans." [04:03]
  • Cuomo rebuffs Mamdani’s experience:
    • "This is not a job for a first timer." [04:15]
    • And, highlighting the role’s demands: "Any day you could have a hurricane. You, God forbid, a 9/11, a health pandemic." [04:18]
  • Sliwa positions himself on crime:
    • "Look, I'm Rudy Giuliani 2. I proved that tonight in that debate. I was a law and order candidate and Andrew Cuomo, his time has come and gone." [04:32]

• Polling & Election Dates

  • Mamdani leads in the polls.
  • Election Day is November 4; early voting starts October 25.

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6. Music News: KISS Guitarist Ace Frehley Dies

• Band Announcement:

  • Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS mourn Ace Frehley, original lead guitarist, calling him:
    • “An essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during the most formative, foundational chapter of this band and its history.” [04:47]

• Frehley’s Passing

  • Died from injuries suffered in a fall at age 74.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Zelenskyy about peace with Russia:
  • “Russia's true readiness for peace lies not in... words, but in actually ceasing the strikes and killings.” [00:28]
• Cuomo on being NYC Mayor:
  • "This is not a job for a first timer." [04:15]
• Sliwa’s Law and Order Stance:
  • "Look, I'm Rudy Giuliani 2. ...I was a law and order candidate and Andrew Cuomo, his time has come and gone." [04:32]
• KISS Statement (Simmons & Stanley):
  • “An essential and irreplaceable rock soldier...” [04:47]

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Segment Timestamps

• Ukraine conflict & Trump-Zelenskyy meeting: 00:00–00:47
• Gov’t shutdown update: 00:47–01:35
• California politics (Pelosi’s seat): 01:35–01:59
• John Bolton indictment: 03:12–03:42
• NYC mayoral debate: 04:03–04:40
• Ace Frehley KISS tribute: 04:40–05:09

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Note: Ads and promotional content skipped per instructions.

Transcript

[A]

The focus turns to the war on Ukraine. I'm Sue Guzman. Fox News President Trump meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House today. Fox's Kevin Cork reports from Washington.

[B]

The hope, of course, is that the president will do for Russia and Ukraine what he did for Israel and Gaza and seven other global conflicts. Stop the killing. Zelenskyy, however, remains skeptical of Russia's interest in possible peace talks. Quoting now, Russia's true readiness for peace lies not in Putin's never been short of those, but in actually ceasing the strikes and killings. The White House is said to be considering all possibilities moving forward, ranging from peace negotiations to selling NATO U. S Made Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine.

[A]

President Trump also announcing he plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary in about two weeks. The two spoke by phone yesterday. Still no end to the government shutdown. The government shutdown continuing now into a 17th day as we hear from Fox's Ryan Schmelz.

[C]

A Republican stop measure to reopen the government falls short for a 10th time as Democrats continue insisting on including Affordable Care act subsidies. Senate Majority Leader John Thune revealing he's guaranteed Senate Democrats a vote on extending the Obamacare tax credits. But it's unclear if that will be enough to get enough Democrats on board to break the Senate filibuster.

[A]

Well, it's a question of whether or.

[D]

Not they're, they're willing to take yes for an answer. I mean, that's, I don't know what more we can offer him.

[C]

The tax credits are set to expire at the end of the year. On Capitol Hill, Ryan schmelz, FINAL FOX.

[A]

News the Senate won't vote again until Monday. A California state senator reportedly planning to toss his hat into the ring for the congressional seat currently held by Nancy Pelosi. San Francisco Standard says Democrat Scott Weiner will announce his congressional run next week even though Pelosi has not said whether or not she will seek another term. America is listening to FOX News.

[E]

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[E]

That's simplisafe.com fnc John Bolton, the national.

[A]

Security adviser from President Trump's first term of office turned Trump critic, has been indicted for allegedly storing classified documents at his home. Fox's David Spunt has more in this report.

[D]

His own attorney, Abby Lowell, who famously represented Hunter Biden, Bill Clinton, Jared Kushner in the past, put out a statement a couple of weeks ago when news was swirling that this may be happening, admitting that Bolton did have classified documents in his possession, but said that those were pre cleared for the publication of his book.

[A]

Some of the seized records appear to concern weapons of mass destruction, national strategic communication and the U.S. mission to the United Nations. The three candidates for new York City mayor sparring in a debate last night. Democratic Socialist Zoran Mamdani taking aim at former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's placement of elderly patients with COVID in nursing homes with resulting in thousands of deaths.

[D]

If it was safety that President Trump was so concerned about, he would send them to the 8 out of 10 states that have the highest levels of crime in this country. But he won't because they're all run by Republicans.

[A]

Cuomo questioning Mamdani's lack of experience.

[D]

This is not a job for a first timer.

[E]

Any day you could have a hurricane. You God forbid, a 9 11, a health pandemic debate.

[A]

Audio courtesy of WNBC TV Now Republican Curtis Lewa telling Fox's Hannity he's the candidate who will be toughest on crime.

[D]

Look, I'm Rudy Giuliani 2.

[C]

I proved that tonight in that debate.

[D]

I was a law and order candidate and Andrew Cuomo, his time has come and gone.

[A]

Mamdani leads in the polls. Election day is November 4th and early voting in New York City begins October 25th. Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley releasing a statement now following the death of Kiss original lead guitarist Ace Freeley writing he was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during the most formative, foundational chapter of this band and its history. Ace Frehley died from injuries he suffered a fall. Last month he was 74. I'm Sue Guzman. This is FOX News.

[D]

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.