Fox News Hourly Update — 4PM ET 10/07/2025 Newscast

Host: Tom Graham (FOX News)
Date: October 7, 2025

Episode Overview

This fast-paced news update, anchored by Tom Graham, delivers concise coverage of the biggest national and international stories on October 7, 2025. Major topics include the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, clashes over healthcare policy, uncertainty for furloughed federal workers, southern border statistics, high-level international meetings, updates on the Israel-Gaza conflict, and details of Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming trip to the Middle East.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Stalemate in the Government Shutdown

• Summary: The episode opens with the ongoing government shutdown, now entering its second week, as political divisions prevent resolution.

  • Host Tom Graham sets the stage: "A shutdown with no solution. One week into the government shutdown and the finger pointing continues." [00:02]

• Speaker Highlights:

  • House Speaker Mike Johnson (R):
    • Calls for a "clean spending bill" to reopen the government.
    • Expresses frustration over political stalling:
      Quote: “It is regrettable and sad and real pain is being felt by real people because of these political shenanigans.” — Mike Johnson [00:09]
  • Analysis: Republicans want to postpone major policy debates (like healthcare) to future discussions, hoping to pass basic funding and resolve pay for federal employees.

2. Healthcare Policy Divide

• Reporter Ryan Schmelz explains the core dispute:

  • Democratic position: Insist that a permanent extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits be part of any deal to reopen the government.
  • Republican position: Argue the tax credits should be addressed separately and need “reform.”

• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D):

  • Expresses flexibility, but stands by need for good-faith negotiations:
  • Quote: "What I'm saying is that we have an open mind as it relates to an extension of the Affordable Care act tax credits based on the merits of what is presented in good faith." — Hakeem Jeffries [00:40]
  • Impact: Schmelz reports that about 22 million could see premiums increase if the program isn’t extended by year’s end.

3. Federal Workers in Limbo

• Reporter Jared Halpern provides updates on furloughed federal workers:
  • President Trump signals that not all government employees may be guaranteed back pay after the shutdown.
  • Quote: "We’re going to take care of our people. There are some people that really don’t deserve to be taken care of and we’ll take care of them in a different way.” — Donald Trump [01:21]
  • Context: Federal law is ambiguous on back pay; previous shutdowns saw Congress offer retroactive pay. The current White House memo suggests this isn’t automatic.

4. Border Security Update

• Host Tom Graham:
  Reports a significant drop in border arrests, noting a “55 year low this fiscal year as border crossings have plummeted.” [01:47]

Brief Advertisement Interlude (omitted per guidelines) [02:03–02:31]

5. US-Canada Relations & Fentanyl Crackdown

• President Trump meets with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House.
  • Conversation focuses on successful border cooperation and fentanyl-trafficking crackdowns.
  • Quote: "Canada's worked hard and they've done a much better job than in the past. We have very few people coming in through our southern border too. We've worked with Canada and we've worked with Mexico. So we've made it a lot better." — Donald Trump [02:38]

6. Anniversary of the October 2023 Israel Attacks & War Update

• Correspondent Trey Yinx in Tel Aviv marks two years since the attacks that sparked the ongoing Gaza conflict:
  • Context: Nearly 1,200 people killed; 240 hostages taken initially, with 48 still in captivity.
  • Negotiations: American-led peace talks underway in Egypt aim for a deal by week's end:
    • Potential deal: Exchange of all remaining captives for release of 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 Gazans.
  • US Stance: President Trump urges Israel to halt bombings as ceasefire discussions progress.
  • Quote: "...If the deal progresses, all of the remaining captives would be exchanged for 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1700 Gazans arrested since the beginning of the war." — Trey Yinx [03:07]

7. Pope Leo XIV’s First Foreign Trip

• Correspondent Jonathan Savage shares news of the American-born Pope’s first official visit:
  • Destinations: Turkey and Lebanon, beginning November 30th, marking the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.
  • Mission: Pope Leo expected to advocate for Christians in the Middle East and fulfill journeys planned by his predecessor, Pope Francis.
  • Quote: "The first American born pope made no secret of a desire to complete Francis plans. Pope Leo is expected to use the journey to speak about the plight of Christians in the Middle East." — Jonathan Savage [03:51]

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “A shutdown with no solution. One week into the government shutdown and the finger pointing continues.” — Tom Graham [00:02]
• “It is regrettable and sad and real pain is being felt by real people because of these political shenanigans.” — Mike Johnson [00:09]
• "What I'm saying is that we have an open mind as it relates to an extension of the Affordable Care act tax credits based on the merits of what is presented in good faith." — Hakeem Jeffries [00:40]
• "We’re going to take care of our people. There are some people that really don’t deserve to be taken care of and we’ll take care of them in a different way." — Donald Trump [01:21]
• "Canada's worked hard and they've done a much better job than in the past. We have very few people coming in through our southern border too. We've worked with Canada and we've worked with Mexico. So we've made it a lot better." — Donald Trump [02:38]
• "...If the deal progresses, all of the remaining captives would be exchanged for 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1700 Gazans arrested since the beginning of the war." — Trey Yinx [03:07]
• "The first American born pope made no secret of a desire to complete Francis plans. Pope Leo is expected to use the journey to speak about the plight of Christians in the Middle East." — Jonathan Savage [03:51]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:02] – Government shutdown update and political tensions
• [00:40] – Hakeem Jeffries on ACA tax credits
• [01:04] – Federal workers and potential loss of back pay
• [01:47] – Border arrests at historic lows
• [02:31] – US-Canada border relations and fentanyl crackdown
• [03:07] – Negotiations over hostages and prisoners in Israel-Gaza conflict
• [03:51] – Announcement of Pope Leo XIV’s trip to Turkey and Lebanon

Conclusion

This crisp FOX News newscast delivers authoritative updates on pressing political and international events—with a focus on government gridlock, healthcare policy fights, border security, a major hostage deal in the Middle East, and historic plans for a papal visit. The episode’s reporting is direct, emphasizing the personal, political, and international stakes in these evolving stories.