5AM ET 11/20/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update - 5AM ET 11/20/2025 Newscast

Date: November 20, 2025
Host: Ted Lindner (FOX News Podcasts)

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Episode Overview

This Fox News Hourly Update delivers the latest headlines from politics, sports, and national developments. Key stories include President Trump signing a bill to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, political tensions surrounding the release, ongoing criminal investigations, highlights from the CMA Awards, preparations for Dick Cheney’s funeral, NFL updates, new developments in the Anna Kepner cruise ship case, and urgent warnings about a problematic baby formula recall.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Epstein Files Release Signed Into Law

• President Trump signed a bill on Wednesday night mandating the release of Jeffrey Epstein’s case files by the Department of Justice (DOJ) within 30 days.
  • Christina Coleman, FOX News:

    "The DOJ now has 30 days to release it. Despite the attorney general promising maximum transparency, some Democrats say they still need to put pressure on the Trump administration." (00:14)

• Political Reactions:
  • Democrats see continued pressure as essential for real transparency.
  • Republicans accuse Democrats of staging a “political stunt” with the timing of the file release.
• Trump's Statement:
  • On Truth Social, Trump noted, “at his direction, the DOJ has already turned over close to 50,000 pages of documents to Congress from those files.” (00:14)
• Concerns Remain:
  • Some worry DOJ may withhold files tied to ongoing investigations, as permitted by the new law.
  • Ted Lindner:

    "The documents include several emails that raise new questions about the president's relationship with Epstein." (00:46)

2. Trump & NYC Mayor-Elect Zorra Mamdani

• Trump announced he will meet with New York City Mayor-elect Zorra Mamdani at the White House this Friday.
  • Trump, on Truth Social:

    "Communist mayor of New York City Zorra Mamdani has asked for a meeting. We've agreed. This meeting will take place at the Oval Office on Friday, November 21." (00:46)

  • Zorra Mamdani is set to take office January 1, 2026.

3. 59th Annual CMA Awards

• The event took place in Nashville, aired on ABC.
  • Country star Keith Urban announced the 2025 Entertainer of the Year: Lani Wilson.
  • Lani Wilson also collected Album of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and served as host.

4. Dick Cheney’s Funeral

• Former Presidents Joe Biden, George W. Bush, and former Vice President Al Gore are expected to attend the former Vice President’s funeral service in D.C.
  • The White House confirms President Trump will not attend.

5. Week 12 NFL Preview: Bills vs. Texans

• Joe Morgan, FOX News:
  • The 7-3 Buffalo Bills play against the 5-5 Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football.
  • Texans will be without QB C.J. Stroud for a third consecutive game due to concussion; Davis Mills will sub in.
  • The Bills’ QB Josh Allen is coming off a standout performance:

    • "He threw for three touchdowns and ran for three more, but he'll be facing Houston's top rated defense." (02:37)

6. Anna Kepner Carnival Horizon Case

• The stepbrother of Anna Kepner, an 18-year-old girl found dead aboard the Carnival Horizon, may become a prime suspect.
  • The stepmother, Chantel Kepner, filed a court motion in her divorce proceedings:

    • "In the filing, Chantel Kepner says her testimony could incriminate herself or one of the minor children." (03:22)

  • FBI investigation ongoing; cause of death undetermined. Charges possible against Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother.

7. Baby Formula Recall - Botulism Alert

• Bihart baby formula, recalled nationwide the previous week, was still found for sale in Minnesota, Oregon, and Arizona.
  • Tom Rigotti, FOX News:

    "At least 31 babies in 15 states who drank Bihart formula have been hospitalized and treated for infantile botulism since August. Health officials are warning no affected product should be sold or consumed." (03:47)

  • No fatalities reported so far, but the risk includes paralysis and death.

8. Stock Market Update

• Ted Lindner:
  • "Stock futures at this hour looking good. Dow futures up over 200 points. S&P 500 futures up over 75. NASDAQ futures up 380." (04:18)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Christina Coleman:

  "Despite the attorney general promising maximum transparency, some Democrats say they still need to put pressure on the Trump administration." (00:14)

• Ted Lindner:

  "The documents include several emails that raise new questions about the president's relationship with Epstein." (00:46)

• President Trump, via Truth Social:

  "Communist mayor of New York City Zorra Mamdani has asked for a meeting. We've agreed..." (00:46)

• Joe Morgan:

  "He threw for three touchdowns and ran for three more, but he'll be facing Houston's top rated defense." (02:37)

• Eben Brown:

  "Chantel Kepner says her testimony could incriminate herself or one of the minor children." (03:22)

• Tom Rigotti:

  "At least 31 babies in 15 states who drank Bihart formula have been hospitalized and treated for infantile botulism since August." (03:47)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Epstein Files Bill Signed & Political Reaction: 00:03 – 00:46
• Trump & NYC Mayor-Elect Mamdani: 00:46 – 01:09
• CMA Awards Winners: 01:09 – 01:25
• Dick Cheney Funeral Attendees: 01:25 – 01:34
• NFL Preview (Bills vs. Texans): 02:32 – 03:11
• Anna Kepner Cruise Ship Death Update: 03:11 – 03:40
• Baby Formula Recall & Health Alert: 03:40 – 04:18
• Stock Market Update: 04:18 – 04:29

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This newscast provides a comprehensive, bite-sized round-up of pressing national stories, offering both updates and context on high-profile issues and noteworthy events across the spectrum of politics, crime, sports, health, and business.

Transcript

[Ted Lindner]

Waiting for the Epstein files. I'm Ted Lindner, Fox News. A bill forcing the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files officially signed into law Wednesday night by President Trump. Fox's Christina Coleman with more President Trump.

[Christina Coleman]

Signed that bill directing the DOJ to release the Epstein case files. The DOJ now has 30 days to release it. Despite the attorney general promising maximum transparency, some Democrats say they still need to put pressure on the Trump administration. Meantime, many Republicans maintained that the Democrats were pulling a political stunt by pushing for the release of the Epstein files right now. Trump also noted on Truth Social that at his direction, the DOJ has already turned over close to 50,000 pages of documents to Congress from those files.

[Ted Lindner]

The documents include several emails that raise new questions about the president's relationship with Epstein. Some are worried the Justice Department could choose not to release some files if they're related to ongoing investigations, which the bill allows. President Trump says he'll meet with New York City Mayor elect Zorra Mamdani at the White House this Friday. The president writing on Truth Social on Wednesday night, quote, communist mayor of New York City Zorra Mamdani is asked for a meeting. We've agreed. This meeting will take place at the Oval office on Friday, November 21, Mamdani said. To take office January 1, 2026. The 59th annual CMA Awards held Wednesday night in Nashville. Country star Keith Urban announced the 2025 Entertainer of the Year on ABC and the CMA Award for Entertainer of the Year. Go Lani Wilson. Wilson also won Album of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year and was also the host of the show. And former Presidents Joe Biden and George W. Bush and former Vice President Al Gore among those expected to be present for today's funeral service in D.C. for former Vice President Dick Cheney. The White House says President Trump will not attend. America's Listening to Fox News with a.

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[Ted Lindner]

Week 12 of the NFL season gets underway in Houston tonight. Fox's Joe Morgan with a preview.

[Joe Morgan]

The Texans are fighting to get into the playoff picture. While the Bills are trying to stay within striking distance of the patriots in the AFC east, the 73 Bills make a trip to Houston to face the 55 Texans on Thursday night Football. Houston will be without star quarterback C.J. stroud for the third straight game. Stroud is still recovering from a concussion he sustained at the beginning of November with Davis Mills filling in under center once again, Bill's quarterback Josh Allen is coming off a game where he threw for three touchdowns and ran for three more, but he'll be facing Houston's top rated defense. Joe Morgan, FOX News.

[Ted Lindner]

A stepbrother of a teenage girl found dead on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship may become the prime suspect. This is the stepmother of Anna Kepner files an emergency court motion in her divorce proceedings.

[Eben Brown]

In the filing, Chantel Kepner says her testimony could incriminate herself or one of the minor children. She acknowledges the FBI, which is investigating the agency 18 year old girl's death, could be filing charges against a stepbrother to the victim who is 16 years old. A cause of Anna Kepner's death has yet to be determined. Eben Brown, FOX News.

[Ted Lindner]

And there's a problem with the recall of baby formula linked to cases of botulism, Fox's Tom Rigotti explains.

[Tom Rigotti]

Officials in at least three states, Minnesota, Oregon and Arizona say they found Bihar baby formula for sale one week after the New York based company recalled all products nationwide. It was sold at Target and Walmart or Online. At least 31 babies in 15 states who drank Bihart formula have been hospitalized and treated for infantile botulism since August. Health officials are warning no affected product should be sold or consumed. Infant botulism can cause paralysis and death. No fatalities have been reported.

[Ted Lindner]

Tom Rigotty, FOX News Stock futures at this hour looking good. Dow futures up over 200 points. S&P 500 futures up over 75. NASDAQ futures up 380. I'm Ted Lindner. This is FOX News.

[Christina Coleman]

This is a earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of.

[Joe Morgan]

Jesus, a listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow starting November 30th on foxnewspodcasts.com.