4PM ET 11/01/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update

4PM ET Newscast – November 1, 2025

Host: Daria Albinger (A)
Reporters: Alexandria Hoff (B), Jonathan Serry (D), Rich Edson (C)

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Episode Overview

This Fox News Hourly Update delivers the latest headlines on November 1, 2025. Key topics include government struggles over SNAP benefits during an ongoing shutdown, a foiled terrorist plot in Michigan, legal maneuvers surrounding the Trump administration, heated gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, U.S.-China tensions in the South China Sea during the APEC summit, and developments in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

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Key Stories & Insights

1. Ongoing Government Shutdown & SNAP Benefit Delays

[00:02–00:55]

• SNAP Funding in Jeopardy:
  President Trump is seeking legal ways to keep SNAP benefits flowing after two court decisions mandate their funding during the protracted government shutdown (now in its second month).
• Delays Expected:
  Alexandria Hoff reports from the White House that even if legal hurdles are cleared, there will be lags in benefit distribution.
• Blame Game Over Funding:
  White House Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett criticizes Democrats, calling the use of emergency funds “risky.”

  “The idea that they’re going to take our rainy day fund and spend it—like, what happens at three weeks, yes.” — Kevin Hassett [00:32]

• Impact:
  Over 40 million Americans rely on SNAP for food. Additional delays may worsen hardships.

2. FBI Foils Halloween Terror Plot in Michigan

[00:55–01:45]

• Thwarted Attack:
  The FBI, after round-the-clock surveillance, arrested at least five suspects allegedly plotting a Halloween terrorist attack, dubbed internally as a “pumpkin day” assault.
• Possible International Ties:
  Law enforcement suggests suspects may have connections to international terrorism, but those arrested are described as “homegrown radicals”; one as young as 16.
• Unclear Readiness:

  “Authorities busted at least five people…plotters [were] discussing plans for a, quote, ‘pumpkin day’ end quote, assault, but they could not agree on whether they were ready to carry out the attack on Halloween.” — Jonathan Serry [01:04]

3. Legal Battle: NY Attorney General vs. Trump Administration

[01:45–01:59]

• Subpoena Block Attempt:
  New York Attorney General Letitia James moves to block the Trump Administration’s subpoenas, according to newly unsealed court documents.

4. Politics: Obama Stumps for Democrats in Key Gubernatorial Races

[02:16–03:09]

• Virginia:
  Former President Obama campaigns for Democrats.
  • Abigail Spanberger (D), former congresswoman, highlights her bipartisan work and critiques Republicans on cost-of-living issues.
  • Her Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Winston Earl Sears, attacks Spanberger’s position regarding “biological boys in girls' locker rooms.”

  “Spanberger refuses to support banning biological boys from girls locker rooms.” — Rich Edson [02:25]

• New Jersey:
  • Democrat Mikie Sherrill faces Republican Jack Cittarelli in a tight race.
  • Early voting ends today; both states seen as bellwethers for 2025.

  “New Jersey is a blue state.” — Daria Albinger [03:02]

5. International: U.S. Pressures and China’s Actions in South China Sea

[03:09–03:38]

• ASEAN & APEC:
  Secretary of War Pete Hegseth criticizes China’s increased aggression (ramming, water cannon blasts) at an informal ASEAN meeting.

  “Blasting water cannons at ships and baselessly…claiming jurisdiction over waters that are not theirs to claim.” — Rich Edson and Jonathan Serry [03:27–03:34]

• Philippines & China:
  Ongoing diplomatic tension: the Philippines critiques Chinese actions, while China blames the Philippines for “trespass.”
• Trade Deal:
  China signed an expanded free trade deal with ASEAN despite regional disputes.

6. Middle East: Remains Handed Over by Hamas Not Israeli

[03:38–End]

• Humanitarian Exchanges:
  Israel confirms that the three bodies returned by Hamas were not Israeli.
  • Exchange came after Israel returned 330 Palestinian bodies to Gaza.
  • Remains examined overnight to confirm identities.

  “The remains of three people handed over by Hamas were not Israeli.” — Daria Albinger [03:38]

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Notable Quotes

• Kevin Hassett (White House Economic Council Director):

  “The idea that they’re going to take our rainy day fund and spend it—like, what happens at three weeks, yes.” [00:32]

• Jonathan Serry (on FBI arrests):

  “Authorities busted at least five people… discussing plans for a, quote, ‘pumpkin day’ end quote, assault, but they could not agree on whether they were ready to carry out the attack on Halloween.” [01:04]

• Rich Edson (on Virginia race):

  “Spanberger refuses to support banning biological boys from girls locker rooms.” [02:25]

• Rich Edson & Jonathan Serry (on China/ASEAN tensions):

  “Blasting water cannons at ships and baselessly… claiming jurisdiction over waters that are not theirs to claim.” [03:27–03:34]

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Important Timestamps

• 00:02 — SNAP benefit delays & government shutdown update
• 00:55 — FBI thwarts Halloween terrorist attack plot
• 01:45 — NY AG Letitia James moves to block Trump subpoenas
• 02:16 — Obama campaigns in gubernatorial races (Virginia, New Jersey)
• 03:09 — U.S.-China tensions at APEC and ASEAN
• 03:38 — Update on remains returned by Hamas to Israel

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This fast-paced newscast encapsulates the day’s major domestic and international stories, emphasizing political friction, national security, and ongoing global tensions.

Transcript

[A]

No snap decision on SNAP benefits. I'm Daria Albinger, Fox News. President Trump is calling for a way to legally continue the benefits as two courts rule that they must be funded during the shutdown, which is now in its second month. Fox's Alexandria Hoff at the White House.

[B]

The president also added that even with legal clarification, some of these funds will be delayed. And the White House Economic Council director Kevin Hassett point pointing the finger at Democrats as well. He says using these emergency funds rather than resolving the issue at hand is risky.

[C]

The idea that they're going to take our rainy day fund and spend it like what happens at three weeks, yes.

[B]

I'm talking about that delay in snap benefits. People will not be seeing those hit their accounts today, maybe even a week from now. As the president said that even once all of this is resolved or if they can tap into these USDA funds, the SNAP emergency reserve, that at that point it's then going to have to go to the states to disperse those funds.

[A]

Over 40 million Americans rely on SNAP benefits to buy food. The FBI foils a Halloween terrorist attack in Michigan in the nick of time.

[D]

A top federal law enforcement source tells FOX News that the people involved with this alleged plan to conduct a Halloween attack have possible ties to international terrorism. Sources familiar with the operation tell the New York Post authorities busted at least five people. According to the Post, round the clock. FBI surveillance overheard the alleged plotters discussing plans for a, quote, pumpkin day, end quote, assault, but they could not agree on whether they were ready to carry out the attack on Halloween. And according to the New York Post, sources described the people arrested as homegrown radicals, one of them as young as 16.

[A]

Fox's Jonathan Serry. New York Attorney General Letitia James is trying to block the Trump administration subpoenas. It's according to court documents that were unsealed this week. America's listening to FOX News.

[D]

It's Will Kane Country Watch it live at noon Eastern Monday through [e-mail] 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. News.

[A]

Former President Obama is on the stump today for Democratic gubernatorial candidates in two states, Virginia and New Jersey. Fox's Rich Edson in Norfolk, Virginia.

[C]

Here in Virginia, it's former Democratic Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger. She says that her lead in the polls here will deliver her a decisive victory Tuesday. Her closing argument, she's a moderate who works with Republicans while criticizing them on the cost of living and doge cuts in a state where there are more than 300,000 federal workers. Spamberger's Republican challenger, Lieutenant Governor Winston Earl Sears, points out that Spanberger refuses to support banning biological boys from girls locker rooms. The country's only other governor's race is in New Jersey, Republican Jack Cittarelli against Democrat Mikey Sherrill. Sherrill is setting high expectations for a race that some polls show is a tight one.

[A]

New Jersey is a blue state.

[C]

Meanwhile, Cittarelli will be campaigning in Central Jersey.

[A]

Both states are seen as bellwethers in this off year election. Election day is Tuesday. Early voting ending today. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth joined an informal meeting with ASEAN leaders at the APEC summit today. He accused China of becoming more aggressive in the South China Sea, ramming and.

[C]

Blasting water cannons at ships and baselessly.

[D]

Claiming that there's trespass going on, unlawfully.

[C]

Claiming jurisdiction over waters that are not theirs to claim.

[A]

The Philippines, who is a member of asean, has criticized China for aggressive behavior in the South China Sea, which China blames on the Philippines. In the meantime, China signed an expanded free trade deal with ASEAN on Tuesday. Israel announcing today that the remains of three people handed over by Hamas were not Israeli. The unidentified remains were returned late yesterday and examined overnight. Yesterday, Israel returned the bodies of 3:30 Palestinians to Gaza. I'm Daria Albinger. This is Fox News.