Fox News Hourly Update — 8AM ET 10/18/2025 Newscast

Date: October 18, 2025
Host: Angelo Bavaro, FOX News Podcasts

Overview

This episode delivers a fast-paced rundown of key national and international news as of the morning of October 18, 2025. Highlights include nationwide demonstrations against President Trump, developments in the ongoing government shutdown, updates on the Israel-Hamas hostage crisis, steps toward a peace deal in Ukraine, threats to congressional lawmakers, and former Rep. George Santos's commuted sentence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nationwide Demonstrations: 'No Kings' Rallies

• [00:02] Thousands are expected to participate in “No Kings” rallies today, expressing discontent with President Trump’s administration and what organizers call “an abuse of power.”

• Republican response:

  • House conference chairwoman Lisa McClain criticizes Democrats, accusing them of capitulating to their base and not representing average Americans.

  “This is who Democrats are fighting for. Not you, not our troops, not the hard working moms down the street. They're fighting for the most radical voices in America.”
  – Lisa McClain ([00:20])

2. Government Shutdown Continues

• [00:35][00:44] Speaker Mike Johnson directs House members to stay in their districts, applying pressure on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
• Senate to hold its 11th vote on a “clean” continuing resolution on Monday at 5:30pm.
• Inter-chamber tensions escalate; House will be called back if the Senate passes the bill.
• Political rhetoric intensifies:
  • Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries condemns White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt for inflammatory comments likening Democrats to “Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens and violent criminals.”

3. Israel-Hamas Hostage Crisis Update

• [01:20][01:25] Another deceased hostage is returned to Israel, as part of President Trump’s brokered 20-point peace deal.

  • 20 living hostages and 10 bodies have now been returned; 18 bodies are still missing.
  • Trump warns that Israel could resume military action if Hamas does not return all hostages.
  • Hamas claims difficulty in recovering some remains due to destruction and uncertainty over their location.

  “President Trump warns he will greenlight Israel to resume the war if Hamas doesn't return all hostages.”
  – Angelo Bavaro ([01:51])

4. Ukraine Peace Talks Progress

• [02:16][02:24] Trump is “pushing for a peace plan” after recent communications with Russian and Ukrainian leaders.

• [02:30][02:37] President Trump expresses hope for a near-term end to the Ukraine war in comments to President Zelensky.

  “It'll be a great honor to get it done. And the Ukrainian people are great, and the Russian people are great.”
  – President Trump ([02:30])

• Trump also speaks with President Putin; both agree to a summit in Hungary later in the month.

• Trump’s proposal: Both sides stop at current positions, “let both claim victory and let history decide.”

5. Threats Against GOP Lawmakers

• [02:58][03:06] Multiple Republican congressional offices, including Utah’s Mike Kennedy, report receiving American flags altered with Nazi swastikas.

  • Incident immediately reported to Capitol Police.

  “It's a corrupted American flag with the Nazi swastika right in the middle of this flag. And of course, we not only immediately took them down... we reported that to Capitol Police.”
  – Rep. Mike Kennedy ([03:23])

• Capitol Police are actively investigating.

6. George Santos Sentence Commuted

• [03:47][04:07] President Trump commutes the prison sentence of former Rep. George Santos (R-NY), who was serving over seven years for fraud and identity theft, including stealing IDs of family members to fund his political campaign.

  • Santos had pleaded guilty and been sentenced in April 2025.

  “Santos was serving more than seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud and identity theft charges.”
  – Angelo Bavaro ([04:07])

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Lisa McClain critiques Democrats: “They're fighting for the most radical voices in America.” ([00:20])
• Trump’s optimism on Ukraine: “It'll be a great honor to get it done. And the Ukrainian people are great, and the Russian people are great.” ([02:30])
• Rep. Kennedy on receiving hate symbols: “We not only immediately took them down from the desk and... we reported that to Capitol Police.” ([03:23])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:02 – Overview of nationwide 'No Kings' rallies and Republican/Democratic responses
• 00:44 – Government shutdown latest and political tensions in Congress
• 01:25 – Hostage crisis update between Israel and Hamas
• 02:24 – Ukraine peace talks involving Trump, Zelensky, and Putin
• 03:06 – Threats by mail to GOP congressmen
• 03:47 – George Santos receives commuted sentence

Tone & Style

• Urgent, succinct, and focused on hard news with direct quotations from political figures and brief context around each story.
• No editorializing; maintains a reportorial tone.

This summary encapsulates the fast-evolving political and international landscape as covered by Fox News that morning, highlighting major controversies, negotiations, and breaking news affecting the US and beyond.