8AM ET 08/26/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 8AM ET (08/26/2025)

Podcast: Fox News Hourly Update
Host: Peter Doocy (and Fox News correspondents)
Date: August 26, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a rapid-fire rundown of key political and legislative events dominating U.S. headlines, with a strong focus on President Trump’s recent executive actions and confrontations with the Federal Reserve, state governors, and major cities regarding crime, bail reform, and protest tactics. Also highlighted are the evolving Congressional races in Texas.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. President Trump Removes Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook

• Summary: President Trump initiates an unprecedented move by dismissing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, following allegations of mortgage fraud.
• Key Details:
  • Trump’s decision follows a criminal referral from Bill Pulte, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, accusing Cook of falsifying bank documents and property records.
  • Specifically, Cook is alleged to have claimed two properties as her primary residence when applying for mortgages in 2021.
  • Trump's letter stated: "In light of your deceitful and potentially criminal conduct in a financial matter, I do not have such confidence in your integrity." (00:21)
• Notable Moment: Cook refuses to step down, despite Trump’s directive. (00:48)

2. Crime Crackdown: Federal Action in Major Cities

• Summary: President Trump escalates federal involvement in urban crime, with a potential National Guard deployment to Chicago on the table.
• Key Details:
  • Defense Department reportedly preparing plans for National Guard deployment in other cities.
  • Chicago’s Mayor criticizes the effort, citing low yields for high federal spending: "The President has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to what, arrest nine people in D.C."
  • Trump corrects the narrative: “Nine people. We didn't arrest nine people. We actually arrested a total of well over 1,000 people.” (01:18)
  • Trump says troops will only be sent if requested by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, who pushes back: "Mr. President, do not come Chicago." (01:24)
  • Maryland Governor Wes Moore reacts dismissively: "LOL and keep telling yourself that, Mr. President."
• Analysis: The president is positioning crime as a federal priority and sparring with Democratic governors over jurisdiction and effectiveness.

3. Executive Order: Jail for Flag Burning

• Summary: Trump signs an executive order that mandates prosecution of flag burning, framing the issue as a matter of patriotism and civil peace.
• Key Details:
  • The executive order calls for the Justice Department to prosecute flag burning, challenging a long-standing 1989 Supreme Court verdict that established flag burning as First Amendment protected speech.
  • Trump’s rationale: “The people in this country don't want to see our American flag burned and spit on. And by people that are in many cases paid agitators.” (02:28)
  • Fox's Jared Halpern: The move likely triggers a constitutional confrontation and potential Supreme Court challenge. (02:38)
• Memorable Quote: Trump calls the previous court decision “very sad,” and contends "flag burning can incite riots."

4. Executive Order: Ending Cashless Bail

• Summary: Another executive order seeks to cut federal funding to locations that maintain cashless bail regimes, starting with Washington, D.C.
• Key Details:
  • Trump: “Cashless bail, we're ending it, but we're starting by ending it in D.C. and that we have the right to do through federalization.” (03:08)
  • Critics argue cash bail unfairly targets low-income individuals.
• Political Context: This action aligns with Trump’s ‘law and order’ messaging and is contentious among advocates for criminal justice reform.

5. Texas Congressional Race Shakeup

• Summary: Texas GOP passes a new redistricting plan consolidating Democratic districts, reshaping the primary landscape.
• Key Details:
  • Greg Casar announces his campaign for the newly drawn 37th Congressional District: “You didn’t elect me to go learn the same broken playbook. You sent me to write a new one.” (03:39)
  • Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D), who had previously called for President Biden to step down, will not run for re-election, avoiding an intra-party primary clash.
• Implications: The move is poised to challenge Democratic control and alter the Congressional balance in Texas.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump (to Lisa Cook):
  “In light of your deceitful and potentially criminal conduct in a financial matter, I do not have such confidence in your integrity.” (00:21)

• President Trump (on crime raids):
  “Nine people. We didn't arrest nine people. We actually arrested a total of well over 1,000 people.” (01:18)

• President Trump (on flag burning):
  “The people in this country don't want to see our American flag burned and spit on. And by people that are in many cases paid agitators.” (02:28)

• President Trump (on cashless bail):
  “Cashless bail, we're ending it, but we're starting by ending it in D.C. and that we have the right to do through federalization.” (03:08)

• Greg Casar (launching campaign): “You didn’t elect me to go learn the same broken playbook Democrats have used for decades. You sent me to write a new one.” (03:39)

• Governor J.B. Pritzker:
  "Mr. President, do not come Chicago." (01:28)

• Governor Wes Moore:
  "LOL and keep telling yourself that, Mr. President." (01:35)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:02–00:48: Trump removes Fed Governor Lisa Cook
• 00:48–01:47: Federal crime crackdown and city/state reactions
• 02:16–02:59: Executive order jailing flag burners and First Amendment clash
• 03:01–03:16: Executive order targeting cashless bail
• 03:29–03:57: Texas redistricting and new Congressional campaign

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Tone and Language

The episode maintains Fox News’ brisk, news-oriented tone, blending direct reporting with notable Trump soundbites and highlighting partisan exchanges between the president and Democratic officials.

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Summary

This episode captures an administration on the offensive: purging top officials, challenging entrenched legal precedents, taking on state and city leaders, and pressuring opponents in Congress—all with an unmistakably combative Trumpian style. The episode’s succinct format packs several days’ worth of controversy into four minutes, spotlighting the current polarization and rapid developments in U.S. governance.

Transcript

[Peter Doocy]

A Federal Reserve governor removed Gianna Jelouse, Fox News President Trump opening a new front in the fight against America's central bank.

[Narrator/Reporter]

In a letter shared to Truth Social, President Trump says he's removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook from her position effective immediately. He cites a criminal referral from Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, who has claimed Cook falsified bank documents and property records alleging she claimed two different properties were her primary residences when obtaining mortgages in 2021. In the letter addressed to Cook, the president explains, in light of your deceitful and potentially criminal conduct in a financial matter, I do not have such confidence in your integrity. Cook was appointed by former President Biden and has been serving a term that ends in 2038. Kristen Goodwin, Fox News Now Cook says.

[Peter Doocy]

She will not step down. In just a few hours, President Trump will be holding a cabinet meeting in Washington, D.C. as he looks to continue his crime crackdown. A new report from the Washington Post says the Defense Department is drafting plans for deployment of of National Guard troops to other cities.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Next on the list could be Chicago, whose mayor is unimpressed by the Capitol crime crackdown. The president has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to what, arrest nine people in D.C. the president was quick to correct Mayor Johnson.

[President Donald Trump]

Nine people. We didn't arrest nine people. We actually arrested a total of well over 1,000 people.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

But President Trump plans to wait to send in the troops until Illinois Democratic Governor J.B. pritzker asks him to. Pritzker responded, Mr. President, do not come Chicago. President Trump also has Maryland Democratic Governor Wes Moore saying, LOL and keep telling yourself that, Mr. President. After the latest claim and a days long back and forth about crime in Baltimore.

[Peter Doocy]

That's Fox's Peter Doocy at the White House. Illinois Governor J.B. pritzker says crime is falling in his city. America's listening to Fox News.

[Will Kane]

It's Will Kane Country 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.

[Peter Doocy]

President Trump wants to send flag burners to jail, signing an executive order likely to trigger a constitutional fight.

[Jared Halpern]

Fox's Jared Halpern the president says individuals who burn an American flag should be sentenced to a year in jail because.

[President Donald Trump]

The people in this country don't want to see our American flag burned and spit on. And by people that are in many cases paid agitators.

[Jared Halpern]

An executive order signed by President Trump requires the Justice Department to prosecute flag burning and if necessary, pursue litigation that would challenge the 1989 Supreme Court opinion that ruled flag burning is protected by the First Amendment. The president called that decision very sad, claiming flag burning can incite riots at the White House. Jared Halpern, Fox News.

[Peter Doocy]

The president signed another executive order yesterday threatening to revoke federal funding from jurisdictions that continue to implement cashless bail.

[President Donald Trump]

Cashless bail, we're ending it, but we're starting by ending it in D.C. and that we have the right to do through federalization.

[Peter Doocy]

Critics of cash bail say it's an unfair burden on low income people who can't afford to pay their way out of jail. And a race for Congress shaken up after Texas lawmakers approved a GOP friendly redistricting plan that combines areas repped by Democrats.

[Ryan Schmelz]

Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Cassar launching his campaign for the newly redrawn Texas 37th congressional district. But you didn't elect elect me to go learn the same broken playbook Democrats have used for decades. You sent me to write a new one. The 36 year old Kassar has represented the 35th district since 2023. But Republicans passed a new congressional map earlier this month. 78 year old Lloyd Doggett's decision not to run spares Democrats of a bitter primary that could have pitted wings of the party against one another. Doggett was the first sitting House Democrat to call for President Biden to drop out of the 2024 race in Washington. Ryan Schmelz, F. Gianna Jelosi, this is.

[Peter Doocy]

FOX NEWS.

[Will Kane]

From the FOX News Podcasts Network.

[Peter Doocy]

Hey there, it's me, Kennedy. Make sure to check out my podcast, kennedy Saves the world. It is five days a week, every week. Download and listen at foxnewspodcast.com or wherever you listen to your favorite podcast.