8AM ET 08/28/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 8AM ET 08/28/2025 Newscast

Host: Therese Crowley
Date: August 28, 2025
Main Theme:
A concise news summary covering a tragic church shooting in Minnesota, CDC leadership turmoil, updated Covid vaccine policies, and crime trends in Chicago and Washington, D.C.

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1. Minnesota Church Shooting ([00:02]–[01:07])

• Incident Summary:
  • A mass shooting took place at Annunciation Catholic Church, Minnesota.
  • Casualties: Two children killed, 14 wounded, and three elderly parishioners shot.
• Shooter’s Background:
  • The shooter was identified as Robin Westman (born Robert Westman; name changed in 2020 to reflect female gender identity at age 17).
  • Left behind writings and YouTube videos, including a manifesto that authorities acknowledge.
  • “This deeply sick murderer scrawled the words ‘for the children’ and ‘where is your God’ and ‘kill Donald Trump’ on a rifle magazine. This level of violence is unthinkable.” (DHS, [00:48])
• Investigation Details:
  • Shooter used three legally purchased guns: rifle, shotgun, pistol.
  • Died by suicide at the scene.
• FBI Involvement:
  • Incident is being investigated as an act of domestic terror and hate crime against Catholics.
  • Noted increase: Over 400 hostile acts against Catholic churches reported this year.

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2. Chicago Crime Trends and Federal Response ([01:07]–[01:50])

• President Trump’s Federal Crime Enforcement:
  • Spotlights Chicago for potential federal intervention.
• Local Perspective:
  • Chicago’s mayor resists National Guard support, citing a 31% drop in murders ([01:21]).
• Notable Quotes:
  • “The positive trends that we are experiencing right now is because we’re doing the things that work.” – Will Kane ([01:28])
  • “Talk to the people who are the numbers to find out what's really going on.” – Shanette Ringgold, mother who lost two sons to gun violence ([01:33])
• Federal Logistics:
  • DHS may utilize Great Lakes Naval Station to house federal personnel ([01:45]).

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3. CDC Leadership Shakeup and Vaccine Policy Changes ([02:32]–[04:10])

• CDC Director’s Abrupt Departure:
  • Susan Minarez, handpicked by Health Secretary RFK Jr., ousted after one month over vaccine policy disputes.
  • The departure follows President Kennedy's decision to drop federal recommendations for Covid vaccines for healthy children.
  • Statement Dispute:
    • HHS posted Susan Minarez “is no longer director... We thank her for her dedicated service...” ([02:47])
    • Attorneys for Minarez counter: “She has neither resigned nor received notification…When CDC Director Susan Minarez refused to rubber stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fired dedicated health experts, she chose protecting the public over serving a political agenda.” ([03:00])
  • Four senior CDC leaders, including the chief medical officer, resign alongside Minarez.
• Covid Vaccine Policy Update:
  • RFK Jr. announces federal approval only for updated shots (Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax) for seniors and high-risk individuals.
  • Emergency authorization rescinded.
  • Quote:
    • “A new framework for Covid vaccines meets a demand of science, safety and common sense.” – Jared Halpern ([03:37])
  • Coverage: Not clear if all insurance plans will cover costs; most Americans must consult a health professional for vaccination ([03:55]).

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4. Crime and Law Enforcement in Washington, D.C. ([04:10]–[04:19])

• Dramatic Decline in Carjackings:
  • D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser credits President Trump’s “surge in federal law enforcement” for an 87% drop in carjackings.
  • Relationship between federal and local law enforcement highlighted as productive.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On the Minnesota Shooting: “Investigators examining the writings and YouTube videos left behind by the 23 year old shooter who killed himself...” – Therese Crowley ([00:10])
• On Chicago Crime Trends: “The positive trends that we are experiencing right now is because we're doing the things that work.” – Will Kane ([01:28])
• On CDC Turmoil: “She has neither resigned nor received notification from the White House that she has been fired...When CDC Director Susan Minarez refused to rubber stamp unscientific, reckless directives...she chose protecting the public over serving a political agenda.” – Attorneys for Dr. Minarez ([02:57])
• On Covid Vaccines: “A new framework for Covid vaccines meets a demand of science, safety and common sense.” – RFK Jr. via Jared Halpern ([03:37])

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Structure and Tone

• The episode presents urgent news updates in a direct, matter-of-fact journalistic style, balancing headlines with key background context and notable on-the-record sources.
• Content is fast-paced and focused on major political, law enforcement, and public health developments, with minimal commentary and no opinion segments.

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Summary Table of Contents

| Segment | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Minnesota Catholic Church Shooting | 00:02–01:07 | | Chicago Crime and Federal Involvement | 01:07–01:50 | | CDC Leadership Crisis and Vaccine Policy Change | 02:32–04:10 | | Crime Drop in Washington, D.C. | 04:10–04:19 |

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If you missed the episode, this summary highlights the key events, developments, and statements shaping the top U.S. news stories as reported at 8AM ET, August 28th, 2025.

Transcript

[Therese Crowley]

Love and candles. I'm Therese Crowley. Fox News Minnesota opens its arms to the families of the shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church with prayers and vigils for the two children killed, 14 wounded and three parishioners, two in their 80s. Investigators examining the writings and YouTube videos left behind by the 23 year old shooter who killed himself. Robber turned Robin Westman, armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol fired dozens of rounds through a side window of the church.

[Fox News Reporter]

The shooter was named Robert at birth, but that later changed when he was 17 years old. Court records show Robert Westman was granted a name change to Robin in 2020 with the court writing quote, minor child identifies as a female. Authorities say they're aware of a manifesto that the shooter had time to be released on YouTube which has since been taken down. And DHS posted on X saying in part quote, this deeply sick murderer scrawled the words for the children and where is your God and kill Donald Trump on a rifle magazine. This level of violence is unthinkable. Also, police say the shooter used three legally purchased guns for this attack.

[Therese Crowley]

The FBI investigating as an act of domestic terror and hate crime against Catholics. With over 400 hostile acts against Catholic churches this year, President Trump continues to eye Chicago for federal crime enforcement.

[Chicago Official]

Chicago's mayor defends his resistance to accepting National Guard reinforcements, pointing to a 31% drop in murders.

[Will Kane]

The positive trends that we are experiencing right now is because we're doing the things that work.

[Chicago Official]

Shanette Ringgold has lost two sons, La Deveret and Navaje, to gun violence. Talk to the people who are the numbers to find out what's really going on. The Great Lakes Naval Station just north of Chicago confirms that the Department of Homeland Security has reached out for support potentially to house federal personnel.

[Therese Crowley]

Fox's Mike Tobin in Chicago America is listening to Fox News.

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[Therese Crowley]

The new director of the CDC is out Chief for just a month even though Health Secretary RFK Jr. Handpicked her for the job. She reportedly clashed with him over vaccine policies. Kennedy had dropped federal recommendations that healthy children get Covid vaccines.

[Health Expert or CDC Attorney]

Health and Human Services Posted on X Susan Menares is no longer director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We thank her for her dedicated service to the American people. But attorneys for Dr. Manera's issued a statement saying she has neither resigned nor received notification from the White House that she has been fired. They wrote. When CDC Director Susan Minarez refused to rubber stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fired dedicated health experts, she chose protecting the public over serving a political agenda. She had just been confirmed to run the CDC by the Senate last month till NATO fucks.

[Therese Crowley]

Four other senior CDC leaders followed her out with their own resignations, including the agency's chief medical medical officer. Updated Covid shots have federal approval, but for fewer Americans fox's Jared Halpern Health.

[Jared Halpern]

And Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Says a new framework for Covid vaccines meets a demand of science, safety and common sense. He has rescinded emergency authorization of the vaccines. Instead, federal regulators approved updated Covid shots from Pfizer, Moderna and novavax for seniors and younger adults and children with at least one high risk health condition. Millions of other Americans will likely need to visit a doctor or other healthcare professional, and it is not clear if all insurance carriers will cover the costs for the vaccines. At the White House, Jared halpern, Fox.

[Therese Crowley]

News D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser now says the District greatly appreciates President Trump's surge in federal law enforcement. Says they enhance what MPD has been able to DO, reporting an 87% drop in carjackings. I'm Therese Crowley. This is Fox News.

[Will Kane]

It's Will Kane. Country Watch it live at noon Eastern Monday through [e-mail] or on the Fox News 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.