6PM ET 10/23/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 6PM ET 10/23/2025

Overview:
This episode delivers a fast-paced roundup of the day’s top political, legal, and international news, with the primary focus on President Trump’s aggressive actions against drug trafficking, the NBA gambling scandal, immigration and fraud issues, a historic religious meeting, and labor developments on Broadway.

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Major Stories & Key Discussion Points

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1. U.S. Military Strikes Against Drug Boats (00:02–01:04)

• President Trump addressed the escalation of U.S. military action against suspected drug boats near Venezuela.
  • Details: Nine strikes so far, including two recent ones in the Pacific Ocean.
  • Quote [00:10]:
    Fox News Correspondent:
    “Usually when you see five engines, I’ve never even seen that before. But when you see five engines on a boat going about 65 miles an hour loaded up with white powder in silver cases, generally speaking, that’s not a good sign.”
  • Policy: Trump underlines he will not seek a formal declaration of war from Congress, but asserts a hardline approach: “the military will kill people who are bringing drugs into the country.”
  • Trump denies reports of B1 bombers heading to Venezuela, despite evidence that two departed from a Texas air base earlier in the day.

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2. Government Shutdown and Private Donation Claim (01:04–01:15)

• Shutdown reaches day 23 with President Trump continuing to blame Democrats for the impasse.
• Trump claims receipt of an anonymous $130 million private donation to cover military salaries.
  • Quote [01:04]:
    Fox News Correspondent:
    “He called us the other day and he said, 'I’d like to contribute any shortfall you have because of the Democrat shutdown. I’d like to contribute, personally contribute any shortfall you have with the military.'”
  • Donor remains unnamed.

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3. NBA Gambling & Match-Fixing Scandal (01:15–02:03)

• More than 30 current and former NBA coaches and players charged in a nationwide illegal poker and match-fixing scheme.
  • Notable individuals:
    • Chauncey Billups, Portland Trailblazers coach
    • Terry Rozier, Miami Heat guard
• U.S. Attorney Joseph Nosella issues warning about violating the law.
  • Memorable Moment [01:32]:
    Lisa Licera:
    “Violating the law is a losing proposition and you can bet on that.”
• NBA Players Association responds:
  • Emphasizes: "The integrity of the game is paramount to NBA players, but so is the presumption of innocence."

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4. Illegal Immigrant Charged in Fatal Crash & Fraud (02:30–03:19)

• Porco Stankovic, an illegal immigrant from Serbia:
  • Incident: Accused of killing a man in Indiana (October 15) during a reckless truck crash.
  • Allegations: Lacked commercial driver’s license and has a criminal history out of New York.
  • Accused of illegally securing $36,000 in PPP loans during the pandemic.
  • Quote [03:03]:
    Rosemary Jenks, Immigration Accountability Project:
    “Those dollars should be reserved for Americans.”
  • Stankovic has been in the U.S. illegally since 2011.

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5. Historic Papal-Anglican Meeting (03:19–04:01)

• For the first time since the 16th century:
  • Pope Leo meets King Charles in the Sistine Chapel.
  • Both prayed together, marking the first such event since the Church of England split from Rome in 1534.
  • Quote [03:29]:
    Jonathan Savage:
    “Their voices intertwined in prayer, Pope Leo and King Charles share a moment in the Sistine Chapel.”
  • Occasion seen as a step toward closer ties; included a private meeting with Queen Camilla present.

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6. Broadway Musicians’ Union Reaches Deal (04:01–04:27)

• The American Federation of Musicians reached a tentative deal with commercial producers, avoiding a potential strike.
  • Follows closely on the heels of a separate agreement with the Actors Equity union.
  • Quote [04:01]:
    Lisa Licera:
    “It’s the second Broadway labor deal in less than a week after producers reached a deal with the Actors Equity.”

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On military anti-drug efforts:
  “Five engines on a boat going about 65 miles an hour loaded up with white powder in silver cases, generally speaking, that’s not a good sign.” – Fox News Correspondent [00:10]

• On government shutdown contributions:
  “I’d like to contribute personally... any shortfall you have with the military.” – Fox News Correspondent quoting President Trump [01:04]

• On the NBA scandal:
  “Violating the law is a losing proposition and you can bet on that.” – Lisa Licera quoting U.S. Attorney Joseph Nosella [01:32]

• On PPP fraud and immigration:
  “Those dollars should be reserved for Americans.” – Rosemary Jenks [03:03]

• On the papal-royal meeting:
  “Their voices intertwined in prayer, Pope Leo and King Charles share a moment in the Sistine Chapel.” – Jonathan Savage [03:29]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:02: Trump on strikes against suspected drug boats
• 01:04: Shutdown and anonymous military salary donation
• 01:15: NBA match-fixing charges announced
• 02:30: Indiana truck crash, PPP loan fraud, and illegal immigration
• 03:19: Pope Leo and King Charles’s historic meeting
• 04:01: Broadway musicians avert strike

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This summary covers all important topics and soundbites from the Fox News Hourly Update, 6PM ET 10/23/2025 episode, providing a full snapshot for those who missed the broadcast.

Transcript

[Lisa Licera]

Congress will be brief time. Lisa Licera, FOX News. President Trump talking about the strikes on suspected drug boats near Venezuela.

[Fox News Correspondent]

Usually when you see five engines, I've never even seen that before. But when you see five engines on a boat going about 65 miles an hour loaded up with white powder in silver cases, generally speaking, that's not a good sign.

[Lisa Licera]

There have been nine strikes, the last two in the Pacific Ocean. The president said he will not asked for a declaration of war from Congress, but said the military will kill people who are bringing drugs into the country. The president denied reports that B1 bombers are headed toward Venezuela, though Fox News has confirmed that two bombers did take off from an air base in Texas earlier today and flew toward Venezuela, as seen on open source flight trackers on the government shutdown, which is now in day 23. The President continues to blame Democrats for the lack of a deal and and he said he got a private donation of $130 million to cover military salaries.

[Fox News Correspondent]

He called us the other day and he said, I'd like to contribute any shortfall you have because of the Democrat shutdown. I'd like to contribute personally contribute any shortfall you have with the military.

[Lisa Licera]

The president did not name the donor. More than 30 people, including current and former NBA coaches and players charged in a nationwide scheme to rig illegal poker games and influence NBA games. Your winning streak has has ended.

[Fox News Host]

Your luck has run out.

[Lisa Licera]

Violating the law is a losing proposition and you can bet on that. U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nosella. Among those charged Portland Trailblazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier. The NBA Players association in a statement said the integrity of the game is paramount to NBA players, but so is the presumption of innocence. America's listening to FOX News.

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[Lisa Licera]

An illegal immigrant accused in a deadly truck crash in Indiana is also accused of accessing a program designed to help small businesses during the pandemic.

[Jeff Manasso]

Porko Stankovic is accused of killing a man Oct. 15 when he allegedly rammed his semi truck into a car in Porter County, Indiana. He's now facing reckless homicide and other charges. Investigators say Stankovic did not have a commercial driver's license. We're now also told the 41 year old Serbian national took PPP loans during the pandemic totaling $36,000.

[WhatsApp Advertiser]

Those dollars should be reserved for Americans.

[Jeff Manasso]

Rosemary Jenks with the Immigration Accountability Project. Court records also show that Stankovic has a criminal history out of New York and that he's been in the country illegally since 2011. Jeff Manasso, Fox News.

[Lisa Licera]

The heads of two churches unite to worship for the first time in centuries as the pope meets King Charles in the Vatican. Glory be to the Father and to.

[Jonathan Savage]

The Their voices intertwined in prayer, Pope Leo and King Charles share a moment in the Sistine Chapel. It's the first time an English or British monarch has prayed with the head of the Roman Catholic Church since Henry VIII founded the breakaway church of England in 1534. Charles now leads that church, visiting the Vatican with Queen Camilla to mark closer ties. They also held a private meeting with Pope Leo. Jonathan Savage, FOX News.

[Lisa Licera]

The union representing Broadway's musicians has reached a tentative agreement with commercial producers, aversioning a potential strike. The American Federation of Musicians look, Lato too, had threatened to walk out if they didn't have a new contract by this morning. It's the second Broadway labor deal in less than a week after producers reached a deal with the Actors Equity. I'm Lisa Licera. This is FOX News.

[Fox News Host]

It will take a 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.