Fox News Hourly Update: 5AM ET, November 4, 2025 – Summary

Main Theme & Overview

This episode delivers the latest breaking political and electoral news in the United States at the dawn of Election Day 2025. Key topics include the record-tying government shutdown, U.S.-South Korean security talks, recent ICE enforcement statistics, the soaring Mega Millions jackpot, and heated coverage of pivotal New York City and Virginia elections. Notable voices include President Trump, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, and reporting from Capitol Hill.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Record-Tying Government Shutdown

• The current U.S. government shutdown is now 35 days long, equaling the longest in history.
• The impasse arises from a standoff in Congress: Democrats demand inclusion of ACA premium tax credits as part of a reopening deal.
• Historical context: The previous record was during Trump's first term, related to border wall funding.
• President Trump urges Republicans to end the Senate filibuster to allow a stopgap reopening measure.

Notable Quotes:

• “35 days ties the record for longest government shutdown in U.S. history.”
  — Ryan Schmelz, [00:11]
• “President Trump is encouraging Republicans to end the Senate filibuster in order to pass a stopgap measure to reopen the government.”
  — Ryan Schmelz, [00:37]

2. U.S.-South Korea Security Relations

• War Secretary Pete Hegseth attends annual security talks with South Korean officials, following a DMZ visit.
• The U.S. reaffirms its alliance with South Korea amid increasing regional security threats.
• Hegseth highlights that U.S. troops remain focused on defending South Korea, but will stay flexible concerning other regional issues.

Notable Quotes:

• “We face, as we both acknowledge, a dangerous security environment. But our alliance is stronger than ever before.”
  — Ted Lindner (summarizing Hegseth), [00:50]

3. ICE Enforcement Update

• Homeland Security reports that 70% of ICE arrests over Halloween weekend involved “criminal illegal aliens,” defined as individuals charged or convicted of additional crimes beyond immigration offenses.
• Those arrested are described as “some of the worst of the worst.”

4. Mega Millions Lottery

• No one claimed the Mega Millions jackpot on Halloween night.
• The current jackpot has risen to $800 million, having not been won since June.

5. Election Day 2025: New York City Mayoral Race

Main Candidates & Dynamics:

• Zoram Mamdani: Democratic frontrunner, not endorsed by President Trump.
• Andrew Cuomo: Former Governor, running as an Independent.
• Curtis Sliwa: Republican candidate, trailing substantially.

Trump’s Commentary:

• President Trump is critical of Mamdani, labeling him a “communist,” and expresses a reluctant preference for Democrats over “communist” candidates.
• “If you have a communist running New York, all you're doing is wasting the money you're sending there... I'm going to pick that bad Democrat all the time.”
  — Donald Trump, [03:47]

Andrew Cuomo’s Response:

• Accuses Mamdani of being Trump’s “puppet” and “parrot.”
• Rallies in Manhattan, claims momentum is shifting his way.
• “We're going to win tomorrow and we're going to make a better city than ever before.”
  — Andrew Cuomo & Will Kane, [04:34]
• Emphasizes trust in “the people of New York City” and closes out his campaign with them on the subway.

Curtis Sliwa:

• Remains in the mayoral race but far behind in polls.

6. Virginia Gubernatorial Campaign

• President Trump holds a town hall to support Virginia Republicans.
• Governor Glenn Youngkin warns against former Rep. Abigail Spanberger's (Democrat) economic policies.
  • “She wants to kill jobs and we've had record job creation. She wants to raise taxes and we've had $9 billion of tax relief.”
    — Glenn Youngkin, [05:08]
• Trump stops short of endorsing Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears, due to a prior falling out, but urges support for the GOP ticket.

Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|----------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:11 | Ryan Schmelz | “35 days ties the record for longest government shutdown in U.S. history.” | | 00:37 | Ryan Schmelz | “President Trump is encouraging Republicans to end the Senate filibuster...” | | 00:50 | Ted Lindner (Hegseth)| “We face... a dangerous security environment. But our alliance is stronger...” | | 03:47 | Donald Trump | “If you have a communist running New York... I'm going to pick that bad Democrat...”| | 04:12 | Andrew Cuomo | “We have long known that Andrew Cuomo is Donald Trump's puppet in this race...” | | 04:35 | Will Kane/Andrew Cuomo| “We're going to win tomorrow and we're going to make a better city than ever before.”| | 04:43 | Andrew Cuomo | “I trust people. I don't trust politicians, I don't trust billionaires...” | | 05:08 | Glenn Youngkin | “She wants to kill jobs and we've had record job creation. She wants to raise taxes...”|

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:03–00:50: Record government shutdown details and context
• 00:50–01:15: U.S.-South Korea security and ICE weekend enforcement
• 01:15–01:40: Mega Millions jackpot update
• 03:38–04:58: New York City mayoral election coverage (Trump, Mamdani, Cuomo, Sliwa)
• 04:58–05:35: Virginia gubernatorial race and Trump's involvement

Overall Tone & Takeaways

• The newscast is rapid and fact-driven, maintaining a strict focus on political and governmental updates, with candid soundbites from key figures.
• The language is direct, with clear emphasis on political divides, high-stakes electoral contests, and national security concerns.
• Election Day coverage in NYC and Virginia is especially pointed, with both sides doubling down on critique and campaign optimism.

This episode gives listeners a pulse on major breaking news and political commentary as Americans head to the polls.