4AM ET 10/18/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 4AM ET 10/18/2025 Newscast

Host: Debra Valentine, FOX News
Air Date: October 18, 2025

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Episode Overview

The 4AM ET edition delivers quick-fire coverage on major national and international news. Top stories include President Trump’s ongoing efforts for Ukrainian conflict resolution, the indictment of John Bolton, anti-ICE protests in Illinois, the commutation of George Santos’s sentence, and a funding battle between California and federal authorities over truck driver licensing.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Push for Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks

• [00:02–00:50]
• President Trump, after meeting with President Zelensky, publicly expresses optimism about peace.
• Trump also held a two-hour call with Vladimir Putin—both agree to a late October summit in Hungary.
• Trump’s proposal: both sides “stop where they are, let both claim victory and let history decide.”

Notable Quotes:

• President Trump [as read by Debra Valentine]:
  “It’ll be a great honor to get it done. And the Ukrainian people are great and the Russian people are great.” [00:21]
• Jared Halpern:
  “President Trump says both sides need to come to an agreement, stop where they are, let both claim victory and let history decide.” [00:44]

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2. John Bolton Pleads Not Guilty to Classified Documents Charges

• [00:50–01:46]
• John Bolton, Trump’s former National Security Adviser, pleads not guilty to 18 counts of mishandling classified documents.
• DOJ alleges Bolton kept and shared highly sensitive info — including with family — using personal emails and messaging apps.
• Bolton claims he is being targeted as part of the Justice Department being weaponized against Trump’s adversaries.
• Information previously declined for prosecution now forming the basis for charges, says Bolton.

Notable Quotes:

• David Spont:
  “Bolton is facing charges of not only keeping top secret classified information, but sharing it with family members identified as Person 1 and Person 2.” [01:10]
• John Bolton (statement, as reported by Spont):
  “Now I have become the latest target in weaponizing the Justice Department to charge those he deems to be his enemies with charges that were declined before or distort the facts.” [01:33]

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3. Anti-ICE Protests in Illinois Escalate

• [03:13–03:53]
• At least 15 people arrested at a protest outside Chicago amidst heightened anti-ICE activity.
• Police used helmets and batons; protest breached the designated protest zone.
• Trump seeks Supreme Court approval to deploy National Guard in Illinois, a move opposed by the state governor.
• Governor’s stance: Trump is “invading” Illinois, state will defend its sovereignty.
• A judge blocks the National Guard deployment, citing lack of rebellion.

Notable Quotes:

• Chanley Painter:
  “Illinois State Police armed with helmets, face shields and wooden batons had to push back protesters after a rowdy crowd gathered outside the designated protest zone and then before a protest curfew.” [03:19]
• Illinois Governor (quoted):
  “Donald Trump will keep trying to invade Illinois with troops and we will keep defending the sovereignty of our state.” [03:43]
• Debra Valentine:
  “The judge blocked the deployment because she found no evidence of any danger of rebellion that would warrant federal troops.” [03:53]

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4. George Santos Has Federal Sentence Commuted

• [04:05–04:26]
• Trump commutes the sentence of George Santos, formerly serving over seven years for fraud and identity theft.
• Santos admitted to deceiving donors and stealing identities, including those of family.

Notable Quotes:

• Jared Halpern:
  “President Trump has commuted the sentence of disgraced former New York Republican Congressman George Santos, ordering his immediate release from federal prison.” [04:05]
• “Santos admitting last year to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of 11 people, including members of his own family.” [04:16]

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5. California Penalized Over Truck Driver Language Rules

• [04:26–04:58]
• After a fatal crash, the DOT pulls $40 million in funds from California due to non-compliance with a rule requiring commercial drivers to speak English.
• Secretary Sean Duffy defends enforcing the policy, stating it’s a decades-old requirement.
• California officials push back, citing a better-than-average crash rate among state truckers.

Notable Quotes:

• Sean Duffy:
  “This is a long standing rule. It’s been on the books for decades. It’s just that we are now enforcing the law and saying you have to speak English. You have to be able to read road signs in English.” [04:47]

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Notable Quotes (with Attribution & Timestamps)

• President Trump (via Debra Valentine):
  “It’ll be a great honor to get it done. And the Ukrainian people are great and the Russian people are great.” [00:21]

• Jared Halpern:
  “President Trump says both sides need to come to an agreement, stop where they are, let both claim victory and let history decide.” [00:44]

• John Bolton (reported by David Spont):
  “Now I have become the latest target in weaponizing the Justice Department to charge those he deems to be his enemies with charges that were declined before or distort the facts.” [01:33]

• Chanley Painter:
  “Illinois State Police armed with helmets, face shields and wooden batons had to push back protesters after a rowdy crowd gathered outside the designated protest zone and then before a protest curfew.” [03:19]

• Illinois Governor (quoted):
  “Donald Trump will keep trying to invade Illinois with troops and we will keep defending the sovereignty of our state.” [03:43]

• Sean Duffy:
  “It’s just that we are now enforcing the law and saying you have to speak English. You have to be able to read road signs in English.” [04:47]

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Memorable Moments

• The headline-grabbing Trump-Putin summit planned for Hungary [00:28].
• Bolton asserting political targeting in the latest classified docs prosecution [01:33].
• Illinois governor’s stark accusation of Trump “invading” the state [03:43].
• The surprising commutation of George Santos by President Trump [04:05].
• The significant financial penalty imposed on California amidst a federal-state conflict [04:26].

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Ukraine peace push: [00:02–00:50]
• Bolton indictment coverage: [00:50–01:46]
• Illinois protests and National Guard debate: [03:13–03:53]
• George Santos sentence commuted: [04:05–04:26]
• California truck driver licensing funds withdrawn: [04:26–04:58]

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Summary
This brisk newscast spotlights political high-stakes drama at home and abroad: from presidential diplomacy in Eastern Europe, to internal strife over immigration enforcement, contentious legal prosecutions, pardons, and ongoing culture-war tussles between states and federal authorities. The tone is urgent, concise, and direct, mirroring the fast-paced cadence of network radio news.

Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

A push for peace. I'm Debra Valentine, Fox News. President Trump is again pushing for a peace plan following talks with Russian and Ukraine leaders. Fox's Jared Halpern has more from the White House.

[Jared Halpern]

Sitting across the table from President Volodymyr Zelensky, President Trump expressed optimism the war in Ukraine could soon end.

[Debra Valentine]

It'll be a great honor to get it done. And the Ukrainian people are great and the Russian people are great.

[Jared Halpern]

The president spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for more than two hours on Thursday, both leaders agreeing to a summit later this month in Hungary. On his social media page, President Trump says both sides need to come to an agreement, stop where they are, let both claim victory and let history decide. At the White House, Jared Halpern, FOX News.

[Debra Valentine]

Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton pleads not guilty to 18 counts of mishandling classified documents. Fox's David Spont reports from Greenbelt, Maryland.

[David Spont]

Not a word from the former ambassador and former national security adviser. When I asked him if he had a comment, this is as he walked into the courthouse. Bolton is facing charges of not only keeping top secret classified information, but sharing it with family members identified as Person 1 and Person 2. The DOJ says he sent diary like entries about his work days at the White House and shared information classified up to the top secret sci level, sharing that information on messaging apps and personal email accounts. Bolton says of Trump in a statement. His former boss, quote, now I have become the latest target in weaponizing the Justice Department to charge those he deems to be his enemies with charges that were declined before or distort the facts.

[Debra Valentine]

Prosecutors say that some of the information Bolton had gathered was exposed when operatives believed to be linked to Iran hacked his email account. America's listening to Fox News.

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[Debra Valentine]

Arrested at another anti ICE protest in Broadview, Illinois, Friday. Here's Fox's Chanley Painter.

[Chanley Painter]

Illinois State Police armed with helmets, face shields and wooden batons had to push back protesters after a rowdy crowd gathered outside the designated protest zone and then before a protest curfew. So now President Trump is asking the Supreme Court to step in and allow National Guard deployment in the state to protect federal agents conducting immigration enforcement. The Illinois governor, however, is fighting back, saying, quote, donald Trump will keep trying to invade Illinois with troops and we will keep defending the sovereignty of our state.

[Debra Valentine]

The judge blocked the deployment because she found no evidence of any danger of rebellion that would warrant federal troops. An early release from prison for a disgraced former congressman.

[Jared Halpern]

President Trump has commuted the sentence of disgraced former New York Republican Congressman George Santos, ordering his immediate release from federal prison. He was serving more than seven years after pleading guilty to fraud and identity theft charges. Santos admitting last year to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of 11 people, including members of his own family.

[Debra Valentine]

That's Fox's Kevin Cork with that report. Following a fatal crash, the Transportation Department pulling $40 million of funding to California as the state refuses to comply with a rule requiring only English speaking people to be licensed to drive commercial vehicles. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy defending the rescission of funds on fox's Ingram angle.

[Jared Halpern]

This is a long standing rule. It's been on the books for decades. It's just that we are now enforcing the law and saying you have to speak English. You have to be able to read road signs in English.

[Debra Valentine]

California's governor their office arguing the state's commercial truck drivers have a lower crash rate than that of the national average. I'm Debra Valentine. This is FOX News.

[David Spont]

It's Will Kane Country Watch it live at noon Eastern Monday through Thursday@fox news.com 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 podcast.