Fox News Hourly Update: 4PM ET 10/02/2025 Newscast

Overview

This episode of the Fox News Hourly Update delivers a concise roundup of current national and international news headlines for the afternoon of October 2, 2025. Highlights include a renewed debate over healthcare in the context of the government shutdown, the U.S. response to drug cartels, a deadly attack in Manchester, the latest on Wall Street's market performance, proposals for armed security at places of worship in Florida, and an update on Elon Musk's historic net worth milestone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Government Shutdown and Healthcare Debate

• Democrats vs. Republicans: The episode opens with heated exchanges over the impact of the government shutdown on healthcare and alleged misinformation.
  • [00:02-00:10] Host Lisa Brady frames the topic around Democratic accusations that Republicans are misrepresenting their healthcare policy demands.
  • [00:10-00:26] Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) directly refutes GOP claims about Medicare for undocumented immigrants, emphasizing that only individuals with legal status qualify for federal programs:

    "The president said Democrats want to give a gold plated Medicare program for illegal aliens. That's not true."
    — Chris Coons [00:10]

  • Coons details how recent Republican legislation narrowed access to Obamacare subsidies and how Democrats intend to reverse those cuts. He also highlights the ongoing dispute over the legal status of migrants paroled into the U.S. under Biden's policies.
• White House Stance:
  [00:47] Fox's Rich Edson notes that the White House is prioritizing passage of a short-term funding bill to end the shutdown, promising further policy negotiations after government functions resume.

2. Escalation Against Drug Cartels

• Military Action:
  The newscast covers a significant policy shift under the Trump administration, officially labeling drug cartels as terrorist organizations and initiating armed conflicts.
  • [01:13] Ryan Schmelz reports on a recent U.S. strike against a ship in the Caribbean suspected of drug trafficking:

    "The Memo cites a Sept. 15 strike on a ship in the Caribbean accused of trafficking drugs, claiming it could eventually, quote, kill Americans." — Ryan Schmelz [01:13]

  • There is partisan controversy, with Democrats accusing the administration of overstepping executive authority for military operations targeting the cartels.

3. International: Manchester Synagogue Attack

• Ongoing Investigation:
  [01:28] Lisa Brady provides details on a deadly attack in Manchester, England, where a man drove into a crowd outside a synagogue and then began stabbing people, resulting in two deaths and four serious injuries.

4. Market Performance Update

• Wall Street Records:
  [01:42-01:59] The episode highlights a "trifecta" of stock market records. The Dow reports its third consecutive record, the S&P its second, and the Nasdaq closes at an all-time high.

5. Armed Security at Houses of Worship (Florida)

• Florida Legislative Proposal:
  [02:15-02:51] Lisa Brady introduces a new Florida bill that would allow volunteers providing armed protection at religious venues to bypass certain training and licensing requirements.
  • Volunteers would need to pass a background check and obtain a concealed carry permit.
  • Local sheriff’s offices must approve security plans, with final authority resting with each congregation.
  • [02:42] GOP State Senator Don Gates stresses the importance for small congregations:

    "Congregations need to have some way to provide armed security for themselves if they can't afford to buy or arrange for." — Don Gates [02:42]

6. Elon Musk Net Worth Milestone

• Financial Milestone:
  [03:10-03:52] Carmen Roberts covers the news that Elon Musk has become the first person to achieve a net worth of $500 billion—nearing the GDP of Austria—and is projected to become the world’s first trillionaire by 2033, according to Forbes.
  • Musk’s notable statement on X (formerly Twitter):

    "It's not about compensation, but about me having enough influence over Tesla to ensure safety if we build millions of robots." — Elon Musk, via Carmen Roberts [03:45]

  • Despite this, Tesla shares slipped slightly after recent gains.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Chris Coons refutes Medicare conspiracy:
  "The president said Democrats want to give a gold plated Medicare program for illegal aliens. That's not true." — Chris Coons [00:10]
• On legal status and government healthcare aid:
  "Only people with legal status in the US can benefit from Medicare, Medicaid and Obamacare." — Lisa Brady [00:18]
• Drug cartels as terrorist organizations:
  "The Memo cites a Sept. 15 strike on a ship in the Caribbean accused of trafficking drugs, claiming it could eventually, quote, kill Americans." — Ryan Schmelz [01:13]
• Florida church security proposal:
  "Congregations need to have some way to provide armed security for themselves if they can't afford to buy or arrange for." — Don Gates [02:42]
• Musk on wealth and influence:
  "It's not about compensation, but about me having enough influence over Tesla to ensure safety if we build millions of robots." — Elon Musk, reported by Carmen Roberts [03:45]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Government shutdown & healthcare debate: [00:02-00:47]
• US military action against drug cartels: [00:47-01:28]
• Manchester synagogue attack: [01:28-01:42]
• Wall Street records: [01:42-01:59]
• Florida worship security proposal: [02:15-02:51]
• Elon Musk net worth milestone: [03:10-03:52]

This summary reflects the urgent, headline-driven tone of the Fox News Hourly Update, offering a clear snapshot of the biggest stories for the afternoon of October 2, 2025.