4PM ET 08/26/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 4PM ET 08/26/2025

Main Theme:
This episode provides a rapid yet insightful roundup of major national and international stories on August 26, 2025, including breaking political developments involving President Trump and the Federal Reserve, state-federal conflicts over crime policies, major global protests, updates from Wall Street, and a high-profile celebrity engagement.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. Federal Reserve Governor Dismissal & Court Battle

• [00:02–00:52]
  • President Trump has announced the firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, citing “deceitful and potentially criminal conduct in a financial matter” after the FHFA Director accused Cook of mortgage fraud.
  • Lisa Cook intends to legally contest the firing and seek confirmation of her Senate-appointed status.
  • President Trump shared his decision publicly and assured he “would abide by the courts,” yet emphasized he has “good people for that position.”
    • Quote:
      “He [President Trump] says he's removing Cook because of deceitful and potentially criminal conduct in a financial matter.” — Fox News Reporter [00:26]
    • No official criminal charges filed against Cook as yet.

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2. State Criticism & Federal Crime Crackdown

• [00:52–01:24]
  • President Trump escalates his verbal clash with the Governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, after being told not to visit Chicago amid plans to expand federal crime crackdowns, referencing actions already taken in Washington D.C.
    • Quote:
      “President Trump calling the governor of Illinois a slob who refuses to admit he has problems.” — Lisa Brady [00:52]
  • Trump pushes back at the “dictator” label:
    • Quote:
      “The line is that I'm a dictator, but I stopped crime. So a lot of people say, you know, if that's the case, I'd rather have a dictator, but I'm not a dictator. I just had to stop crime.” — President Donald Trump [01:09]
  • New York Governor Kathy Hochul objects to Trump’s portrayal of state bail reform, clarifying New York does not have “cashless bail.”
    • Quote:
      “We don't have cashless bail in the state of New York. He thinks we do, but we don't. So he has no concept of how our laws work here.” — Kathy Hochul [01:24]

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3. Wisconsin Immigration Court Case

• [01:33]
  • A federal judge is allowing a case against a Wisconsin county judge—accused of helping a man evade US immigration agents—to move forward.
    • The summary is concise, focusing on the court’s decision to proceed.

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4. Israeli-Gaza Conflict Update & Hostage Crisis

• [02:31–03:19]
  • Hundreds protest in Israel (including hostage families), demanding a negotiated end to the war in Gaza.
    Quote:
    “While hundreds of Israelis, along with some of the hostage families, have been protesting, demanding an end to the war...” — Jessica Rosenthal [02:35]
  • Israel prioritizes full dismantling of Hamas; rejects further partial deals.
  • Israeli government spokesman David Manser insists there’s no justification for Hamas to hold hostages.
    • Quote:
      “There is simply no explanation... that would be justifiable of why Hamas should should hold even one of our hostages, let alone 50, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.” — David Manser [02:54]
  • IDF is investigating an accidental strike on Nasser hospital that killed five journalists; Israeli PM calls it a “tragic mishap.”
    • Quote:
      “Mentzer confirmed the IDF is investigating the accidental strike on the Nasser hospital in which five journalists were killed.” — Jessica Rosenthal [03:06]

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5. California High-Speed Rail Federal Funding Canceled

• [03:19]
  • The U.S. Transportation Department has revoked federal funding for four California high-speed rail projects, a blow to the state's already financially troubled system. California is legally contesting the move.

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6. Celebrity Engagement: Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce

• [03:38–04:19]
  • Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announce their engagement on Instagram, sharing themed photos referencing an “English teacher and your gym teacher.”
    • Description of photos: Kelce proposing in an English garden, ring details (square oval diamond in gold bezel), and their respective affectionate poses.
    • Quote:
      “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married, ending with a dynamite emoji.” — Michelle Paulino [03:38]
  • The announcement concludes speculation after two years of dating.

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7. Stock Market Update

• [01:33, 04:19]
  • Noted twice during the episode: All indices closed higher for the day.
    • Dow +135 points
    • S&P +26 points
    • Nasdaq +94 points

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Memorable Quotes by Segment

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|----------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:26 | Fox Reporter | “He [President Trump] says he's removing Cook because of deceitful and potentially criminal conduct...” | | 00:52 | Lisa Brady | “President Trump calling the governor of Illinois a slob who refuses to admit he has problems.” | | 01:09 | Donald Trump | “...So a lot of people say, you know, if that's the case, I'd rather have a dictator, but I'm not a dictator.”| | 01:24 | Kathy Hochul | “We don't have cashless bail in the state of New York. He thinks we do, but we don't.” | | 02:35 | Jessica Rosenthal| “...hundreds of Israelis, along with some of the hostage families, have been protesting, demanding an end...”| | 02:54 | David Manser | “There is simply no explanation... that would be justifiable of why Hamas should should hold even one...” | | 03:06 | Jessica Rosenthal| “Mentzer confirmed the IDF is investigating the accidental strike on the Nasser hospital...” | | 03:38 | Michelle Paulino| “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married, ending with a dynamite emoji.” |

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:02 — Trump fires Fed Governor Lisa Cook, legal battle looms
• 00:52 — Trump–Pritzker feud; “dictator” comments and crime crackdowns
• 01:24 — Governor Hochul rebuts Trump on New York’s bail reform
• 01:33 — Wisconsin judge immigration aid case proceeds
• 02:31 — Protests in Israel; Gaza conflict and hostages update
• 03:19 — California high-speed rail loses federal funds
• 03:38 — Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce engagement news
• 04:19 — Wall Street closing summary

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Summary:
This episode spotlights fast-paced political drama both in Washington (Fed Board turmoil, White House misfires at state governors) and abroad (protests and conflict updates from Israel-Gaza), interweaving them with coverage of judicial developments, infrastructure funding setbacks, and lighter celebrity news. The reporting remains pointed, direct, and characteristically brisk, packing a blend of hard news and engaging moments into its short runtime.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

A court fight is coming. Lisa Brady, Fox News. The Federal Reserve governor President Trump says he's firing plans to challenge that in court. A Fed statement says Lisa Cook will ask for a decision confirming her ability to keep fulfilling her responsibilities as a Senate confirmed member of the Fed Board of Governors. President Trump says he would abide by the courts, but also said during a Cabinet meeting today he has good people for that position.

[Fox News Reporter]

President Trump posted a letter on social media announcing Cook's firing, an unprecedented move at the independent agency. The president says he's removing Cook because of deceitful and potentially criminal conduct in a financial matter. The director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency accused Cook of mortgage fraud. He has referred the matter to the Justice Department. But Cook has not been charged as of yet with a crime.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox is Jared Halpern at the White House. President Trump calling the governor of Illinois a slob who refuses to admit he has problems. This after the governor, Democrat J.P. pritzker, told the president publicly not to come to Chicago in a possible expansion of the federal crime crackdown in D.C. so.

[President Donald Trump]

The line is that I'm a dictator, but I stopped crime. So a lot of people say, you know, if that's the case, I'd rather have a dictator, but I'm not a dictator. I just had to stop crime.

[Lisa Brady]

New York's Democratic governor Kathy Hochul, rejecting the president's push to end no cash bail.

[Kathy Hochul]

We don't have cashless bail in the state of New York. He thinks we do, but we don't. So he has no concept of how our laws work here.

[Lisa Brady]

Republicans argue that more lenient bail and prosecutors decisions have helped fuel rising crime in Wisconsin, a federal judge ruling the case can proceed against a county circuit judge accused of helping a man evade US Immigration agents at her courthouse. A late rally on Wall street. The Dow up 135 at the bell. America is listening to Fox News.

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[Lisa Brady]

Protests in Israel demanding a negotiated end to the war in Gaza.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

While hundreds of Israelis, along with some of the hostage families, have been protesting, demanding an end to the war. Israel has focused on dismantling what remains of Hamas and its supporters in Gaza City. Qatari officials say it's on Israel now to accept a ceasefire deal. But Israeli government spokesman David Manser says no more piecemeal deals.

[David Manser]

There is simply no explanation to that would be justifiable of why Hamas should should hold even one of our hostages, let alone 50, 20 of whom are.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

Believed to be alive. Mentzer confirmed the IDF is investigating the accidental strike on the Nasser hospital in which five journalists were killed. The prime minister has called it a tragic mishap. Jessica Rosenthal, Fox News the Israeli Israeli.

[Lisa Brady]

Military now says it was targeting a cameraman conducting surveillance for Hamas. The U.S. transportation Department canceled funding for four projects related to California's high speed rail, which already lost billions in federal grants. The state's already challenging that in court. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are getting married.

[Michelle Paulino]

The two announced their engagement on their Instagram pages with a series of photos and captioned it your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married, ending with a dynamite emoji. In the first pic, Travis is down on one knee with a ring box in hand and Taylor is standing looking down at him, clasping his face in her hands. They are centered in an English garden setting, complete with rose covered arch and Grecian urns on either side. The second pick shows both couples standing looking lovingly at each other, and the third photo is a close up on the ring, a square oval diamond in a gold bezel setting. The engagement comes after two years of dating. Michelle Paulino, Fox News Recapping Wall street.

[Lisa Brady]

Everything finishing in the green, the Dow up 135s and P up 26, Nasdaq gains 94 and Lisa Brady, Fox.

[David Manser]

It'S.

[Will Kane]

The Will Kane Show. Watch it live at noon Eastern Monday through Thursday on foxnews.com or on the Fox News YouTube channel. And don't miss a show. Get the podcast five days a week at foxnewspodcasts.com or wherever you download your favorite podcasts.