4PM ET 08/19/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update: 4PM ET 08/19/2025 Newscast

Podcast: Fox News Hourly Update
Host: Lisa Brady (FOX News Podcasts)
Air Date: August 19, 2025

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Episode Overview

This newscast covers significant political and legal developments across the United States and internationally. Major topics include legal battles over congressional redistricting in California, concerns about the accuracy of D.C. crime statistics, a federal ruling on New Mexico’s gun law, ongoing Russia-Ukraine peace efforts involving former President Trump, and Oklahoma’s new teacher certification exam targeting out-of-state educators. The episode also offers concise financial market updates.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. California Redistricting Lawsuit

• Subject: California Republicans challenge the governor’s new congressional map.
• Detail:
  • GOP lawmakers have petitioned the California Supreme Court to delay a legislative vote on putting newly-proposed congressional district maps on the special election ballot (Nov. 4).
  • The central claim is that the proposal violated California’s constitutional requirement for a 30-day public review period.
  • The urgency and timing of the legislative vote are characterized as a “flagrant violation” of public rights.
• Notable Quotes:
  • "[The legislation] was published for the first time yesterday morning. And yet the same day the legislature acted upon that legislation and pushed it to committees. This is a flagrant violation of the people's rights under the Constitution of California."
    — Unknown Legal Expert, (00:22)
  • "GOP state lawmakers asking California's Supreme Court to delay the legislature's vote to place new proposed congressional district maps on the ballot for a Nov. 4 special election."
    — Mike Colombo, (00:12)

2. D.C. Crime Data Investigation

• Subject: DOJ investigates manipulation of crime stats in Washington, D.C.
• Detail:
  • Reports emerge that D.C. police leadership has encouraged officers to report violent crimes as less serious offenses.
  • Example provided: Serious assaults classified as "injured person to the hospital" when victims don’t cooperate.
  • Union leadership questions the accuracy of reported declines in violent crime, a statistic cited by city leaders to challenge the necessity of federal intervention.
• Notable Quotes:
  • "They respond to the scenes of these violent crimes and inevitably you'll have a captain or a commander or sometimes a lieutenant show up on the scene and advise them to take a report for a lesser offense."
    — Greg Pemberton, D.C. police detective and union leader, (01:11)
  • "Pemberton says he's highly skeptical of crime stat accuracy in D.C. where city leaders have pointed to recent declines in violent crime to argue that President Trump's federal crackdown on crime is not needed."
    — Lisa Brady, (01:22)

3. New Mexico Gun Law Halted

• Subject: Federal court blocks seven-day waiting period for gun purchases.
• Detail:
  • Appeals court finds the law likely violates Second Amendment rights, sending the case back to a lower court.
• Summary:
  • The waiting period will not be enforced pending further judicial review.

4. Market Update

• Dow: Ends up 10 points after an unsettled session.
• S&P: Down 37 points.
• NASDAQ: Down 314 points.

5. Russia-Ukraine Peace Prospects & Trump's Role

• Subject: Former President Trump expresses optimism after talks with global leaders.
• Detail:
  • After meetings with Ukrainian President Zelensky, several European leaders, and a call with Russian President Putin, Trump says a breakthrough is possible within weeks.
  • Trump includes himself in negotiations, emphasizing need for flexibility and European security guarantees for Ukraine, “but there will need to be territory swapped.”
• Notable Quotes:
  • "I hope President Putin is going to be good and if he's not, it's going to be a rough situation and I hope that Zelensky, President Zelensky, will do what he has to do. He has to show some flexibility."
    — Donald Trump, (02:32)
  • "President Trump says we could know in a few weeks if peace is possible between Russia and Ukraine following meetings..."
    — Lisa Brady, (02:15)
• US Policy Clarified:
  • White House rules out US “boots on the ground” in Ukraine, but specifies “air related support is a possibility.”
    — Lisa Brady, (03:02)

6. Oklahoma Teacher Certification Controversy

• Subject: New exam for teachers moving from California and New York sparks debate.
• Detail:
  • Prospective teachers must pass a 50-question test, administered by PragerU, as a condition for certification.
  • Questions focus on American constitutional basics and patriotism, raising concerns about ideological litmus testing.
• Notable Quotes:
  • "It's not unusual for there to be required exams for professionals who are moving to another state. But what's sweeping down the plain in the Sooner state has some crying foul describing it as a mega loyalty test."
    — Ryan Walters, Oklahoma Public School Superintendent, (03:14)
  • "Some of the 50 questions on the test include what are the first three words of the US Constitution? And why freedom of religion is important to America's identity."
    — CJ Papa, (03:14)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• California Lawsuit & Rights:
  • "This is a flagrant violation of the people's rights under the Constitution of California."
    — Unknown Legal Expert, (00:22)
• DC Police on Crime Reporting Pressure:
  • "Inevitably you'll have a captain or a commander or sometimes a lieutenant show up on the scene and advise them to take a report for a lesser offense."
    — Greg Pemberton, (01:11)
• Trump on Peace Talks:
  • "I hope President Putin is going to be good and if he's not, it's going to be a rough situation and I hope that Zelensky...will do what he has to do."
    — Donald Trump, (02:32)
• Oklahoma Exam Criticism:
  • "...some crying foul describing it as a mega loyalty test."
    — Ryan Walters, (03:14)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• California Redistricting Lawsuit: 00:02–00:42
• D.C. Crime Data Probe: 00:42–01:22
• New Mexico Gun Law Ruling: 01:22–01:35
• Market Update: 01:35–01:59, 03:59–04:14
• Russia-Ukraine Peace Developments (Trump): 02:15–03:02
• Oklahoma Teacher Certification Test: 03:14–03:59

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Summary

This episode covers legal disputes over redistricting in California, growing skepticism over D.C.'s crime statistics, federal courts curbing New Mexico's gun law, the US and international efforts for peace in Ukraine (featuring active involvement by former President Trump), and a controversial new teacher certification exam in Oklahoma. Each topic is presented with insights and commentary from key figures, providing listeners a snapshot of the day's major news developments with direct quotes and clear context.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

A fight over new congressional maps heads to court on Lisa Brady, Fox News. California Republicans are now suing to block the governor's redistricting plan.

[Mike Colombo]

GOP state lawmakers asking California's Supreme Court to delay the legislature's vote to place new proposed congressional district maps on the ballot for a Nov. 4 special election.

[Unknown Legal Expert]

That was published for the first time yesterday morning. And yet the same day the legislature acted upon that legislation and pushed it to committees. This is a flagrant violation of the people's rights under the Constitution of California.

[Mike Colombo]

Mike Colombo, lawyer for the plaintiffs, who argue the legislation violates a 30 day public review period.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Kristine Goodwin Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom says the proposal is in response to a Texas redistricting effort as Republicans try to maintain their House majority in next year's midterms. Fox News confirming reports that the Justice Department is investigating whether police officials in Washington, D.C. have falsified crime data. D.C. police detective and union leader Greg Pemberton tells Fox officers are sometimes told to change the way certain incidents are reported.

[Greg Pemberton]

They respond to the scenes of these violent crimes and inevitably you'll have a captain or a commander or sometimes a lieutenant show up on the scene and advise them to take a report for a lesser offense.

[Lisa Brady]

For instance, he says, a shooting or stabbing taken as an injured person to the hospital report if the victim is uncooperative with police. Pemberton says he's highly skeptical of crime. Stat accuracy in D.C. where city leaders have pointed to recent declines in violent crime to argue that President Trump's federal crackdown on crime is not needed. A seven day waiting period for gun purchases now on hold in New Mexico after a federal appeals court ruling it likely infringes on Second Amendment rights. That sends it back to a lower court. A mixed finish for stock. The Dow up 10 points at the Bell. America is listening to Fox News.

[Bret Baier]

Listen to the all new Bret Baier podcast featuring Common Ground in depth talks with lawmakers from opposite sides of the aisle, along with all your Brett Bear favorites like his all star panel and much more. Available [e-mail] or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lisa Brady]

President Trump says we could know in a few weeks if peace is possible between Russia and Ukraine following meetings with.

[Jared Halpern]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders, plus a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. President Trump remains hopeful of a breakthrough in peace talks.

[Donald Trump]

I hope President Putin is going to be good and if he's not, it's going to be a rough situation and I hope that Zelensky, President Zelensky will do what he has to do. He has to show some flexibility.

[Jared Halpern]

Also, the president speaking on Fox and Friends, President Trump says he backs a European proposal to provide security guarantees for Ukraine Ukraine, but also says there will need to be territory swapped as part of a resolution. At the White House, Jared Halpern, Fox News.

[Lisa Brady]

The White House says the president has ruled out any US Boots on the ground in Ukraine as part of a security arrangement, but that air related support is a possibility. Oklahoma plans to test teachers from two states.

[Ryan Walters]

It's not unusual for there to be required exams for professionals who are moving to another state. But what's sweeping down the plain in the Sooner state has some crying foul describing it as a mega loyalty test. Teachers coming from California and New York looking for jobs in Oklahoma must pass an exam that Oklahoma's public school superintendent, Ryan Walters, says is designed to safeguard against radical leftist ideology. The exam is administered by Prageru, an Oklahoma based conservative nonprofit. Candidates must take it in order to get a certification. Some of the 50 questions on the test include what are the first three words of the US Constitution? And why freedom of religion is important to America's identity. CJ Papa, Fox News recapping stocks the.

[Lisa Brady]

Dow up 10 points at the close after hitting a new high early in the session and then falling for most of it. But the S and P still in the red, down 37. A sell off for the NASDAQ down 314. And Lisa Brady, FOX News It's Will.

[Bret Baier]

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 podcasts.