Fox News Hourly Update: 8AM ET 10/16/2025

Episode Overview

This episode of the Fox News Hourly Update, anchored by Dave Anthony, delivers concise reports on major U.S. and international news from national security operations in Venezuela to political struggles over the government shutdown, criminal justice updates, and economic news. The broadcast maintains a fast, informative tone and emphasizes official Fox News reporting and expert commentary.

1. U.S. Covert Action & Drug Fight in Venezuela

• CIA Covert Operations in Venezuela

  • Dave Anthony opens with an urgent update on why the CIA is engaged in Venezuela ([00:02]).

  • Key Points:

    • Reports claim Venezuela allowed "thousands and thousands" of prisoners and mental institution patients into the U.S. ([00:09] Unnamed FOX Correspondent).
    • President Trump frames border security as a direct response to this influx and drug trafficking ([00:20]).
    • U.S. military actions have resulted in the destruction of five drug boats, killing 27 “alleged narco terrorists” ([00:24]).
    • Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro accuses the U.S. of seeking regime change and violating international law.

  • US Official View:

    • U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz stresses legal self-defense:

      • "Defend US Sovereignty against actions that are actively killing Americans. And Venezuela can bring whatever they want to the U.N. you know what's also part of the U.N. is Article 51 ... that enables a country to defend itself." — Mike Waltz ([00:42])

2. Gaza Ceasefire & Hostage Recovery

• Hostage Search Support
  • Mike Waltz provides an update on U.S. help in retrieving bodies of hostages during the Gaza ceasefire ([00:55]).
    • Only 9 of 19 have been returned; the U.S. is providing heavy equipment.
    • A possible breakdown of the ceasefire could endanger the recovery:

      • "...if this cease fire falls apart, if the fighting starts, that's going to make it that much harder to find these loved ones." — Mike Waltz ([01:03])

3. Federal Crime Crackdowns

• Operation “Summer Heat” and San Francisco Crime

  • President Trump calls for federal crime crackdowns in San Francisco ([01:16]).

  • Attorney General Pam Bondi highlights a disturbing arrest:

    • "...a 70 year old man arrested as a result of our operation in Memphis who raped a child under the age of three. That one case makes everything we're doing worthwhile." — Carmen Roberts reporting ([01:27])

  • More than 8,000 arrests were made in the operation.

4. Political Stalemate: Government Shutdown

• Shutdown Now at Day 16
  • Dave Anthony notes the historic length of the government shutdown ([01:38]).
  • Reporter Ryan Schmelz ([01:40]):
    • Senate Republicans have failed 9 times to pass a stopgap funding measure.
    • Democrats insist on negotiating ACA (Affordable Care Act) tax credit extensions.

5. Police Shooting in San Antonio, Texas

• Officers Shot, Suspect Killed ([02:15])
  • Reporting by Carmen Roberts and Tom Rigotti:
    • 911 call leads to confrontation between police and a suspicious man.
    • The man, according to Police Chief Bill McManus, shouted:

      • "I'm not going back to prison. I'm not going back to jail." — Tom Rigotti ([02:38])

    • A gunfight leaves two officers injured (expected to recover) and the suspect dead.

6. Mississippi Execution

• Execution of Charles Crawford ([03:00])
  • Tom Rigotti reports on the execution via lethal injection:
    • Crawford had spent over 30 years on death row for the abduction and murder of Christy Ray.
    • He was traced through a handwritten ransom note; claimed he "blacked out" and did not recall the crime.

7. Economic Update: Data Blackout, Federal Reserve Decisions

• Lack of Economic Data
  • Complete government shutdown means no inflation/unemployment stats ([03:35]).
  • Despite this, Federal Reserve Governor Steve Myron discusses interest rate cuts on FOX Business:

    • "My view is that it should be 50. However, I expect it to be an additional 25." — Steve Myron ([03:49])

    • Predicts three 25-basis-point rate cuts in 2025, totaling 75 points.

8. Markets & Sports

• Stock Market: Rising futures signal likely gains at opening bell ([04:00]).
• Baseball: Toronto Blue Jays beat Seattle Mariners 13-4 but still trail 2-1 in ALCS ([04:00]).

Notable Quotes and Moments

• Mike Waltz on Venezuela: ([00:42]) "Defend US Sovereignty against actions that are actively killing Americans."
• Attorney General Bondi on the importance of crime operations: ([01:27]) "That one case makes everything we're doing worthwhile."
• Federal Reserve’s Myron on interest rates: ([03:49]) "My view is that it should be 50. However, I expect it to be an additional 25."
• Suspect in Texas shooting: ([02:38]) "I'm not going back to prison. I'm not going back to jail."

Summary Timeline

• 00:02 — CIA in Venezuela, US military action, Maduro’s warning
• 00:42 — UN Ambassador Waltz on U.S. self-defense
• 00:55 — Gaza ceasefire, hostage recovery complications
• 01:16 — Federal crime crackdown “Operation Summer Heat”
• 01:38 — Day 16 of government shutdown, Senate gridlock
• 02:15 — San Antonio police shooting
• 03:00 — Mississippi death row execution
• 03:35 — Economic data blackout, Fed rate outlook
• 04:00 — Stock and sports news

Fox News Hourly Update delivers rapid, focused coverage of headline stories with direct expert commentary, offering a clear and urgent tone on developments in U.S. security, justice, politics, and finance.