4PM ET 07/25/2026 Newscast - Fox News Hourly Update

Summary4 min read

Fox News Hourly Update – 4PM ET 07/25/2026 Newscast

Host: Paul Stevens
Date: July 25, 2026

Overview

This hourly newscast from FOX News Radio provides a concise roundup of major international and domestic headlines. The focus is on the tense situation between the U.S. and Iran, North Korean troop support for Russia, recent political developments in the U.S., and controversy surrounding New York City Mayor Zohran Mondanti’s comments on Israel and recent hate crimes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pause in U.S.–Iran Military Escalation

Situation: For the first time in over two weeks, neither the U.S. nor Iran reported military strikes overnight.
- Quote:
  
  “CENTCOM would usually make an announcement sometime after 2:00am local time that strikes were underway. Last night for the first time, that simply did not happen.” — Steve Harrigan [00:19]
Recent Developments: President Trump has been vocal about a potential “massive attack in Tel Aviv,” but is also keeping “all options open.”
Incident in the Gulf of Oman:
- A merchant ship attempted to run a U.S. Naval blockade and was disabled by U.S. forces after multiple warnings.
- Quote:
  
  “A merchant ship tried to break through the US Naval blockade. It was warned four times before US Forces hit it and disabled that ship.” — Steve Harrigan [00:37]
Official U.S. Position:
- President Trump states America is “locked and loaded.” — Paul Stevens [00:49]

2. Russia–North Korea–Ukraine Conflict

North Korean Involvement: Ukrainian President Zelensky warns that Russia seeks to bring in 30,000 additional North Korean troops to fight in Ukraine.
- Quote:
  
  “Russia wants to bring in 30,000 more North Korean troops as the Kremlin continues its invasion of Ukraine.” — Unnamed Reporter [01:00]
Past Deployments: Pyongyang reportedly sent 14,000 soldiers to fight with Russian forces in 2024.
Expected Diplomatic Meeting: Zelensky is scheduled to meet President Trump in Washington early next week.
Russian–Iranian Coordination: Zelensky claims Russian satellite surveillance is assisting Tehran in targeting strikes in the Middle East.
- Quote:
  
  “Zelensky says Russian satellite surveillance is being used by Moscow to help Tehran direct strikes in the Middle East.” — Paul Stevens [01:37]

3. U.S. Politics: Maine Senate Race

Nomination Update: Former Maine State Senator Troy Jackson wins the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins in the 2026 midterm elections. — Paul Stevens [01:55]

4. New York Hate Crime Stabbings and Political Fallout

Incident Details: Raul Mar arraigned on multiple hate crime charges following two stabbing attacks in New York City’s Upper West Side.
Motive: Witnesses claim the suspect shouted “Allah Akbar” before attacking a Jewish man and an Asian man.
Mayor’s Response:
- Mayor Zohran Mondanti denounces hate and anti-Semitism, but faces criticism for rhetoric about Israel.
- Quote:
  
  “Mamdani earlier this week called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal and said the federal government should arrest him. In response to criticism, Mamdani has insisted that his critique is directed at the Israeli government and not Jewish people or the Jewish faith.” — Unnamed Reporter [02:58]
Planned Protest: The group End Jew Hatred prepares a protest against Mayor Mondanti, accusing him of fostering anti-Semitism. — Paul Stevens [03:13]

5. U.S. Legislative Highlights and Budget Stalemate

Government Funding:
- The House passed a stopgap funding bill to keep the government open until December 4, but Senate approval is uncertain.
- Quote:
  
  “But the Senate lacks the votes to approve the Save America Act.” — Chad Bergam [03:40]
Legislation in Limbo:
- Stock Trading Ban: The House bill to ban lawmakers from trading stocks includes a voter ID mandate but little Senate interest.
- Defense & Iran: Provision to fund the Pentagon and pay for the conflict in Iran are held up as Senate Democrats block the defense bill.
- “There's the defense policy bill, which Senate Democrats recently blocked, and the framework for the budget. But this is just a blueprint, no actual money.” — Chad Bergam [03:56]
Congressional Outlook: Lawmakers will remain in D.C. for the next five weeks to work on these challenges.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On U.S.–Iran Tensions:

“The President says the U.S. is, quote, locked and loaded.” — Paul Stevens [00:49]
On the Merchant Ship Incident:

"A merchant ship tried to break through the U.S. Naval blockade. It was warned four times before U.S. Forces hit it and disabled that ship." — Steve Harrigan [00:37]
On Russian Satellite Surveillance:

“Zelensky says Russian satellite surveillance is being used by Moscow to help Tehran direct strikes in the Middle East.” — Paul Stevens [01:37]
On Mayor Mamdani’s Rhetoric:

“Mamdani earlier this week called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal and said the federal government should arrest him in response to criticism.” — Unnamed Reporter [02:58]
On Congressional Gridlock:

“The Senate lacks the votes to approve the Save America Act. Then we have a bill banning House members from trading stocks. However, the Senate has little appetite for that…” — Chad Bergam [03:40]

Timestamps for Key Segments

[00:03–00:49]: U.S.–Iran situation update; military actions in Gulf of Oman
[00:49–01:37]: North Korean involvement in Ukraine; Zelensky's claims; Russia–Iran–Middle East connection
[01:55]: Troy Jackson wins Democratic nomination in Maine
[02:16–03:13]: New York stabbings, Mayor Mondanti controversy, planned protest
[03:13–04:01]: Congressional action on government funding, stock trading ban, defense bill stalemate

This episode captures heightened international tensions, complex political narratives, and the domestic implications of global events—delivered in FOX News’ direct, urgent style.

Loading summary

Transcript11 lines

[00:04]
Paul Stevens
Standoff. I'm Paul Stevens, fox news. The U.S. and Iran both did not report any military strikes overnight. This for the first time in over two weeks after President Trump said that he is considering a massive attack in Tel Aviv. Our Steve Harrigan for 13 nights in
[00:19]
Steve Harrigan
a row here, CENTCOM would usually make an announcement sometime after 2:00am local time that strikes were underway last night for the first time. They that simply did not happen. There's been a lot of talk in recent days from President Trump about a possible massive attack on Iran, with President Trump also making clear he's keeping all options open. Now, there was some military activity in the Gulf of Oman. A merchant ship tried to break through the US Naval blockade. It was warned four times before US Forces hit it and disabled that ship.
[00:49]
Paul Stevens
And the President says the U.S. is, quote, locked and loaded. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky warning that North Korea is going to step up its involvement, involvement in Russia's war with Ukraine.
[01:01]
Unnamed Reporter
Russia wants to bring in 30,000 more North Korean troops as the Kremlin continues its invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelensky making that claim, saying that Russian efforts have been underway since June to get those North Korean troops into the conflict under a mutual defense agreement between the two countries. Pyongyang sent 14,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces in the kursk region in 2024 after a Ukrainian incursion into the area. Meanwhile, President Zelensky is expected to meet with President Trump in Washington early next week till NATO.
[01:37]
Paul Stevens
Fox News Reuters reports that Zelensky says Russian satellite surveillance is being used by Moscow to help Tehran direct strikes in the Middle East. Former Maine State Senator Troy Jackson winning the Democratic Party nomination to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins in next year's midterm elections. America is listening to Fox
[02:00]
Commercial Announcer
cheers to America's 250th birthday. Get 20% off your first purchase at foxnewswineshop.com with code FNRADIO 2020 discount. Excludes Wine Club offers and cannot be combined with any other promotion. Expires July 31, 2026. Must be 21 or older to order. Please drink responsibly.
[02:17]
Paul Stevens
New York Democratic Mayor Zohran Mondanti says he's thankful, quote, unquote, that the suspect behind two hate crime stabbings in the Big Apple is now facing charges. But RCB Cotton says some New Yorkers think he is to blame.
[02:30]
Unnamed Reporter
Suspect Raul Mar was arraigned on two counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault and one count of attempted assault, all of which are being tried as hate crimes after witnesses say on Thursday he yelled Allah Akbar before stabbing a Jewish man and an Asian man on New York City's Upper west side neighborhood. The mayor made repeated statements denouncing hate and anti Semitism after some have questioned whether his rhetoric on Israel has created a hostile environment. Mamdani earlier this week called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal and said the federal government should arrest him in response to criticism. Mamdani has insisted that his critique is directed at the Israeli government and not Jewish people or the Jewish faith.
[03:13]
Paul Stevens
And the group End Jew Hatred is planning a protest against Mayor Mamdani for promoting, they say, anti Semitism. The House approving a plan that would allow the government to run until December 4th. But it needs 60 votes to get approved by the Senate. And Democrats apparently aren't budging.
[03:28]
Chad Bergam
House Republicans did approve various versions of the Save America Act. They attached it to the annual defense policy bill and intend to lacked it to an eventual budget plan. But the Senate lacks the votes to approve the Save America Act. Then we have a bill banning House members from trading stocks. However, the Senate has little appetite for that. Glued to that bill is a mandate for voter id. Finally, there are two efforts to fund the Pentagon and pay for the conflict in Iran. There's the defense policy bill, which Senate Democrats recently blocked, and the framework for the budget. But this is just a blueprint, no actual Money.
[04:02]
Paul Stevens
And that's Fox's Chad Bergam at the Capitol. Lawmakers will be in D.C. for the next five weeks in order to try and hammer something out on all those issues. I'm Paul Stevens. This is Fox.