Fox News Hourly Update – 6PM ET 09/19/2025 Newscast

Host: Lisa Licera
Date: September 19, 2025
Duration: ~5 minutes (ad segments excluded)

Episode Overview

This Fox News hourly newscast delivers a concise roundup of major national news stories, touching on looming political gridlock over government funding, updates on the TikTok-China deal, a congressional resolution against political violence, strong performance in stock markets, a tragic theme park incident in Orlando, developments in Amtrak operations, a rift within New York state Democrats over a mayoral candidate, and a landmark international ocean treaty.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Potential Government Shutdown and Congressional Deadlock

[00:02–00:52]

• Government funding standoff:
  President Trump warns of a potential government shutdown after the Senate fails to pass any short-term spending bill that would keep federal operations running through the end of September.

• Democratic and Republican legislative packages stall:

  • Republican proposal: Sought a "clean extension" until November 21.
  • Democratic proposal: Included additional healthcare provisions, which Republicans argue should be dealt with separately.
  • Result: Both packages fail to pass, necessitating bipartisan action due to the 60-vote threshold.

• Key voices:

  • Trey Gowdy: "We need 60 votes. That means we need Democrat votes. I want to thank Senator John Fetterman. He wants to keep the country open." (00:14)
  • Chuck Schumer: "Republicans think those provisions should be addressed separately." (00:40)
  • Jay Jacobs: "Why not do it now?" (00:38)

• Next steps:

  • Another vote expected the week of September 29, right before the September 30 funding deadline.

2. US-China Deal on TikTok

[00:52–01:09]

• Progress on TikTok’s fate:
  President Trump says a deal allowing TikTok to continue operating in the US is "well on its way" after discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

• Impact:
  The app faced a potential US ban unless divested from its Chinese parent, but an agreement now appears to be imminent, with just formalities remaining.

• Notable quote:

  • Trey Gowdy: "I think China wanted to see it stay open, too. They wanted to see it. And I can tell you the young people in our country wanted to see it stay open very badly..." (01:01)

3. House Resolution Honoring Charlie Kirk

[01:09–01:32]

• Bipartisan call against political violence:
  The House passed a resolution honoring Charlie Kirk, stressing the need for Americans to reject political violence, recommit to respectful debate, and uphold national values.

• Key statement:

  • Jay Jacobs: "The House of Representatives calls upon all Americans to reject political violence, recommit to respectful debate, uphold American values and respect one another as fellow Americans." (01:21)

• Follow-up:

  • A vigil is being held in Utah; a memorial service scheduled in Arizona for Kirk.

4. Stock Market Rally

[01:32–02:00]

• Record-breaking gains:

  • Dow Jones: +172 points
  • Nasdaq: +160 points
  • S&P: +32 points

• Reason for optimism:
  Markets anticipated further interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve to stimulate the economy.

5. Theme Park Tragedy in Orlando

[02:56–03:37]

• Incident:
  Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, dies after a roller coaster ride at Universal Orlando's Epic Universe (Stardust Racers).

• Details:
  Cause of death: multiple blunt impact injuries.

• Eyewitness account:

  • Trey Gowdy (quoting): "The attendant just starts screaming on the top of his lungs, everyone get out. Get off of the coaster." (03:24)

• Aftermath:
  The ride is closed indefinitely pending investigation.

6. Restoration of Federal Control at Union Station

[03:37–04:00]

• Federal Railroad Administration regains authority:
  The Trump administration reaches agreement to reclaim oversight of Washington’s Union Station, aiming to enable Amtrak to focus on rail service.

7. NY State Democratic Party Division

[04:00–04:32]

• Jay Jacobs, party leader, withholds endorsement:

  • Refuses to back Democratic NYC mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani over disagreements on Israel and DSA platform, but respects Governor Kathy Hochul’s endorsement of Mamdani.
  • Will not endorse any other candidate.

• Reaction:

  • Andrew Cuomo (former governor, running as independent): Calls Jacobs’ decision "without precedent."
  • Jay Jacobs: "He says he disagrees with his views on Israel, rejects the platform of the Democratic Socialists of America..." (04:00)

8. High Seas Treaty Coming Into Force

[04:32–04:55]

• First global treaty to protect sea life in international waters:
  Ratified by Morocco (60th nation), the "High Seas Treaty" includes legal safeguards for marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Effective early next year.

Notable Quotes

• Trey Gowdy [00:14]:
  "We need 60 votes. That means we need Democrat votes. I want to thank Senator John Fetterman. He wants to keep the country open."

• Chuck Schumer [00:40]:
  "Republicans think those provisions should be addressed separately."

• Trey Gowdy [01:01]:
  "I think China wanted to see it stay open, too. They wanted to see it. And I can tell you the young people in our country wanted to see it stay open very badly..."

• Jay Jacobs [01:21]:
  "The House of Representatives calls upon all Americans to reject political violence, recommit to respectful debate, uphold American values and respect one another as fellow Americans."

• Eyewitness account [03:24]:
  "The attendant just starts screaming on the top of his lungs, everyone get out. Get off of the coaster."

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Government shutdown risk & Senate deadlock: 00:02–00:52
• TikTok-China agreement progress: 00:52–01:09
• House honors Charlie Kirk/resolution against violence: 01:09–01:32
• Stock market update: 01:32–02:00
• Orlando theme park death (Stardust Racers): 02:56–03:37
• Union Station federal control restoration: 03:37–04:00
• NY Dem Party splits over mayoral candidate: 04:00–04:32
• First international ocean biodiversity treaty: 04:32–04:55

Memorable Moments

• The rare open split within the NY State Democratic Party over their own mayoral candidate, described by Andrew Cuomo as "without precedent."
• Real-time account of chaos at Universal Orlando, highlighting the suddenness and severity of theme park incidents.

This summary encapsulates the major stories and political dynamics shaping headlines as of September 19, 2025, providing a clear snapshot for listeners and readers alike.