Fox News Hourly Update – July 23, 2025

Released on July 23, 2025

The Fox News Hourly Update for July 23, 2025, delivered a comprehensive overview of the day’s most pressing news stories. Hosted by Lisa Brady and featuring reports from various correspondents, the episode covered a range of topics from political controversies and high-profile criminal cases to significant movements in the financial markets. Below is a detailed summary of the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented during the newscast.

1. Allegations of Intelligence Manipulation by Former President Obama

The episode opened with serious accusations against former President Barack Obama regarding the manipulation of intelligence to influence the 2016 presidential election.

• Lisa Brady introduced the segment by stating, "She calls it an attempted coup" (00:02).

• Tulsi Gabbard, identified as the Director of National Intelligence, claimed that "Obama and top administration officials manufactured intelligence assessments" (00:14) to create a narrative that Russian interference in the 2016 election was a decisive factor in Donald Trump’s victory.

• An Unnamed Analyst supported this assertion, stating, "They knew it would promote this contrived narrative that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help President Trump win, selling it to the American people as though it were true. It wasn't" (00:26).

• Tulsi Gabbard further emphasized that the intelligence at the time "showed Russia did not have a favorite candidate" (00:38).

• Lisa Brady reported from the White House, noting that Obama’s office dismissed these allegations as an "attempted distraction" (00:43). The segment concluded with references to ongoing debates about the release of pertinent intelligence files.

2. Conviction of Brian Kohberger in Idaho University Murders

A significant portion of the newscast focused on the conviction of Brian Kohberger for the murder of four students at the University of Idaho.

• Dylan Mortensen, a surviving roommate of one of the victims, characterized Kohberger by stating, "He chose destruction. He chose evil. He feels nothing" (01:00).

• Lisa Brady quoted Mortensen calling the killer "less than human" (01:06).

• Judge Stephen Hippler addressed the courtroom, remarking on Kohberger’s demeanor: "Brian Kohberger showed no emotion in court in Boise during victim impact statements or when Judge Hippler called him a coward before sentencing him to life in prison without the possibility of parole" (01:11).

• The judge further detailed the sentencing: "I remand the defendant to the custody of the Idaho State Board of Corrections for to be imprisoned in an appropriate facility and execution of the sentence where he will remain until he dies" (01:23).

• Kohberger had pled guilty to the murders without providing an explanation, resulting in a plea deal that "spared him from capital punishment" (01:34).

This case highlights ongoing concerns about violent crime and the judicial system's handling of high-profile cases.

3. Wall Street’s Robust Performance

The financial markets saw significant activity, with major indices reaching new highs.

• Jeff Manasso reported that "the Dow is up five oh seven at the bell, with new highs for the S&P and the Nasdaq" (01:45). This bullish performance underscores investor confidence and positive economic indicators.

• Lisa Brady recapped the rally, emphasizing the "record closes for the S&P and the Nasdaq" (04:01), reflecting strong market sentiment.

4. Jeffrey Epstein Files and House Investigations

A contentious issue covered was the involvement of former President Donald Trump in the Jeffrey Epstein files.

• Lisa Brady relayed a Wall Street Journal report claiming that the Justice Department informed President Trump in May that his name appears in the Epstein files (02:15). The White House dismissed this report as "fake news" (02:15).

• The Justice Department responded by stating that President Trump had been briefed and that "nothing warranted further investigation or prosecution" (02:15).

• Mike Johnson, the House Speaker, asserted that the House would not adjourn early for the August recess over the Epstein files and accused Democrats of "trying to utilize the issue to score political points" (02:36).

• An Unnamed Speaker criticized the opposing party, stating, "We will not be lectured on transparency by the same party that orchestrated one of the most shameless dangerous political cover-ups in the history of the United States. And that was President Biden's obvious mental decline" (02:47).

• Mike Johnson also expressed support for the House Oversight Committee's efforts to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell but questioned the reliability of her testimony (02:59).

This segment highlighted the deep political divisions and the ongoing struggle for transparency regarding Epstein’s network.

5. State Department’s Investigation into Harvard University

The newscast also addressed the Trump administration’s scrutiny of Harvard University’s visa policies for foreign students.

• Lisa Brady reported that a Florida judge denied a Trump administration attempt to unseal Epstein-related grand jury investigations from years prior (03:09).

• The State Department initiated a review to determine if Harvard "can keep giving foreign students visas" (03:09).

• Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, explained that although no specific reason was provided for the investigation, the focus is on ensuring Harvard's efforts align with national interests, emphasizing requirements for "full compliance with regulations, transparency and a commitment to cultural exchange" (03:23).

• The Trump administration has previously criticized Harvard for alleged anti-Semitism on campus, but Harvard President Alan Garber responded by stating that "changes have been made to prevent that" (03:23).

This investigation reflects broader concerns about higher education institutions and their policies concerning international students.

6. Closing Market Recap

In the final segment, Lisa Brady summarized the day's financial successes once more, noting the significant gains across major stock indices:

• "The Dow is up 507, almost a new record."

• "There are record closes for the S&P and the Nasdaq" (04:01).

This reiteration underscores the day's strong economic performance.

Conclusion

The Fox News Hourly Update on July 23, 2025, provided listeners with in-depth coverage of major political controversies, a high-profile criminal conviction, and noteworthy movements in the financial sector. Through detailed reporting and direct quotes from key figures, the newscast offered a comprehensive overview of events shaping the national discourse.

Note: Timestamps correspond to the transcript provided and denote the position within the podcast episode where each quoted statement occurs.