6AM ET 09/20/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update

Episode: 6AM ET 09/20/2025 Newscast
Host: Debra Valentine, FOX News Team
Date: September 20, 2025

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Overview

This episode covers major national headlines: the looming government shutdown due to congressional budget disputes, breaking news on an anti-drug trafficking military strike ordered by President Trump, the aftermath of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, new CDC guidance on COVID-19 vaccinations, and a federal court decision dismissing Trump’s $15 billion defamation suit against the New York Times.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Government Shutdown Showdown

[00:02 - 00:49]

• Status: No current budget deal; Congress has left Washington without an agreement with the shutdown deadline looming (September 30).
• Senate Actions: Senate Majority Leader John Thune commits to a funding extension vote when lawmakers return on September 29:

  "Senators left Washington without an agreement to fund the government..."
  — Ryan Schmelz [00:11]

• Divisive Issues:
  • Democrats seek more health care provisions.
  • Republicans want these issues debated separately and are pushing to include millions for security for Trump-era officials and Capitol Hill judges.
• Political Dynamics:

  "All it takes is a handful of Democrats to join the Republicans in keeping the government open and funded."
  — Mike Emanuel [00:26]

2. President Trump Orders Lethal Strike on Narco Vessel

[00:49 - 01:18]

• Breaking Action: President Trump announces (via Truth Social) a lethal strike against a vessel trafficking drugs in international waters:

  "...ordered the Secretary of War to strike in international waters. The strike killed three people with Trump issuing a warning to future narco terrorists."
  — Debra Valentine [00:49]

• Message: This strike is framed as a warning to "future narco terrorists."

3. Community Response to Charlie Kirk’s Assassination

[01:18 - 01:56]

• Utah Vigil: Thousands mourn at Utah Valley University after Kirk’s assassination; the campus community seeks healing and unity.
• Upcoming Memorial: Kirk’s funeral will take place at State Farm Stadium in Arizona; tens of thousands are expected to attend.

  "...this vigil for unity was a chance for students, staff and members of the community to heal and, as one speaker put it so eloquently, find a way to see the light despite all the darkness."
  — Claudia Cowan [01:18]

• Potential Honors: Utah lawmakers consider a permanent memorial.

4. House Debate Over Charlie Kirk Memorial Measure

[02:31 - 03:15]

• House Resolution:
  • Passes the House with bipartisan support (310 in favor).
  • Sharp partisan split: 55% of House Democrats did not support (58 "no," 38 "present," 22 not voting).
• Democratic Opposition:
  • Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC):

    "...called Kirk's rhetoric, quote, ignorant and uneducated."
    — Christina Coleman [02:39]

  • Democrats object to being compelled to endorse Kirk’s views.
• Message of Resolution: Strong condemnation of Kirk’s assassination and all political violence; call for peaceful political debate.

5. CDC Updates COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance

[03:15 - 04:08]

• Policy Change: No more universal recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination; now based on individual decision-making.
• Expert Views:
  • Dr. Cody Meisner (Pro-choice):

    "If a person wants it for himself, herself, her children, they should be able to get it without a prescription."
    — Mike Emanuel quoting Meisner [03:36]

  • Dr. Retsef Levy (Caution):

    "The prescription of these interventions requires some nuanced assessment."
    — Ryan Schmelz quoting Levy [04:04]

• Hepatitis B Vaccines: Panel puts off decision on recommendations for newborns.

6. Trump’s Defamation Suit Dismissed

[04:20 - 04:28]

• Summary:
  • Florida federal judge throws out President Trump's $15 billion lawsuit against the New York Times.
  • Mentioned briefly without further detail.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the urgency of the shutdown:

  "Senators left Washington without an agreement to fund the government..."
  — Ryan Schmelz [00:11]

• On the House division over Kirk resolution:

  "AOC...called Kirk's rhetoric, quote, ignorant and uneducated."
  — Christina Coleman [02:39]

• On CDC's new approach:

  "If a person wants it for himself, herself, her children, they should be able to get it without a prescription."
  — Dr. Cody Meisner via Mike Emanuel [03:36] "The prescription of these interventions requires some nuanced assessment."
  — Dr. Retsef Levy via Ryan Schmelz [04:04]

• On community healing:

  "...find a way to see the light despite all the darkness."
  — Claudia Cowan quoting a vigil speaker [01:18]

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Important Timestamps

• [00:02] – Budget showdown coverage begins
• [00:49] – Trump’s anti-narco vessel strike
• [01:18] – Utah vigil for Charlie Kirk
• [02:31] – House debate on Kirk measure
• [03:15] – CDC changes COVID-19 vaccine guidance
• [04:20] – Trump’s lawsuit against NYT dismissed

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Tone and Language

The report is urgent, factual, and emotionally aware, especially in segments covering political division and national tragedies. The language remains neutral in news reporting style, with direct quotes expressing stronger individual viewpoints.

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Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

No budget deal. I'm Debra Valentine. FOX News Congress in the midst of a shutdown showdown. Fox's Ryan Schmelz has the latest from Capitol Hill.

[Ryan Schmelz]

Senators left Washington without an agreement to fund the government with a September 30 deadline approaching. Senate Majority Leader John Thune says the Senate will vote again on a bill that would extend government funding until November 21st. When lawmakers return on September 29th.

[Mike Emanuel]

All it takes is a handful of Democrats to join the Republicans and keeping the government open and funded.

[Ryan Schmelz]

Democrats have issues with a lack of health care provisions they would like to see included. Republicans say those issues should be debated separately. The GOP proposal also includes millions in security for Trump administration officials, members of Congress and judges on Capitol Hill, Ryan.

[Debra Valentine]

Schmelz, FOX News President Donald Trump announcing another vessel trafficking drugs has been hit with a lethal kinetic strike. In a truth social post, he says he ordered the secretary of War to strike the in international waters. The strike killed three people with Trump issuing a warning to future narco terrorists. Utah Valley University hosting a vigil for Charlie Kirk assassinated on that campus last week. Fox's Claudia Cowan reports from Orem, Utah.

[Claudia Cowan]

Several thousand people gather together to share their grief as one community. This vigil for unity was a chance for students, staff and members of the community to heal and and as one speaker put it so eloquently, find a way to see the light despite all the darkness. Fox News has learned that along with a possible memorial here at the campus where Kirk was fatally shot last week, state lawmakers are discussing how Utah can honor him in a permanent way. Coming up on Sunday, the biggest memorial of all, Kirk's public funeral at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend.

[Debra Valentine]

America's listening to FOX News.

[Emily Compagno]

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[Debra Valentine]

A measure in honor of conservative activist Charlie Kirk sparked debate Friday in the House of Representatives. Fox's Christina Coleman has more.

[Christina Coleman]

The Republican controlled House passed a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk with 310 votes in favor of the measure. However, 55% of House Democrats did not support it. 58 Democrats voted no, 38 voted present and 22 of them didn't vote at all. New York Congresswoman AOC, who voted against the resolution, called Kirk's rhetoric, quote, ignorant and uneducated. The measure strongly condemns Kirk's assassination and all forms of political violence. It calls upon all Americans, regardless of party affiliation, race or creed, to reject political violence and recommit to political debate.

[Debra Valentine]

Several Republican officials criticized the Democratic lawmakers that voted against the resolution and claimed there was no reason to vote against it. Some Democrats argued the resolution would have forced them to also endorse Kirk's views. The CDC Centers for Disease Control updating its guidance surrounding COVID 19 vaccinations. Fox's Mike Emanuel has more.

[Mike Emanuel]

The CDC vaccine panel voted to end universal recommendations for Covid shots, and it voted to recommend Covid booster shots based on individual decision making. Dr. Cody Meisner is a professor of pediatrics at Dartmouth. And if a person wants it for himself, herself, her children, they should be able to get it without a prescription. Dr. Retsef Levy from MIT was on the other side.

[Ryan Schmelz]

The prescription of these interventions requires some nuanced assessment.

[Mike Emanuel]

The panel was expected to weigh in on a controversial issue regarding hepatitis B vaccinations for newborns, but the experts said they weren't ready to make a final decision. In Washington, Mike Emanuel, FOX News.

[Debra Valentine]

A Florida federal judge tossing out a $15 billion defamation lawsuit filed by President Trump against the New York Times. I'm Debra Valent. This is fun.

[Emily Compagno]

I'm Emily Compagno. This week on the FOX True Crime podcast, I'm joined by attorney and spokesperson for the Friends of Amanda Knox organization, Ann Bremner, who's featured in the new FOX Nation special, Framed.

[Mike Emanuel]

Listen and follow [e-mail].