Summary4 min read

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.

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Transcript19 lines

[00:02]
A
Demonstrations set to dominate downtowns nationwide. I'm Angelo Bavaro, FOX News. Thousands across the country will gather today for no Kings rallies protesting the direction of the country under President Trump. Republican House conference chairwoman Lisa McClain going after Democrats saying they are caving to their base.
[00:21]
B
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.
[00:36]
A
Meantime, organizers say they are taking a stand against what they call an abuse of power by the Trump administration. The government shutdown drags on.
[00:44]
C
Speaker Johnson once again ordered House lawmakers to remain in their districts next week. That move is aimed at putting pressure on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Meanwhile, the Senate is scheduled to take its 11th vote on the House passed clean continuing resolution to fund the government at 5:30pm Monday. If that bill were to pass the Senate, then Speaker Johnson would have to call back the House in order to vote. And in another D.C. spat, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries slammed White House press Secretary Caroline Levitt after she said the Democratic Party is made up of Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens and violent criminals.
[01:21]
A
Fox's Matt Finn closure for one more family in Israel.
[01:25]
D
The body of another deceased hostage taken by Hamas is back in Israel. It comes as part of President Trump's 20 point peace deal. So far, 20 living of the remaining hostages and 10 bodies have been returned. Eighteen bodies, though, are still missing. President Trump warns he will greenlight Israel to resume the war if Hamas doesn't return all hostages. Hamas says it needs equipment to recover some of the bodies from rubble, but admits it doesn' know where they all are.
[01:52]
A
Fox's Chanley Painter America is listening to Fox News.
[01:59]
E
It's Will Kane country. Watch it live at noon Eastern Monday through Thursday@fox news.com or on the Fox News YouTube channel. And don't miss the show. Listen and follow the podcast five days a week at Fox newspodcasts.com or wherever you download your favorite podcasts.
[02:16]
A
President Trump is once again pushing for a peace plan following talks with Russian and Ukrainian leaders. Fox's Jira Halpern sitting across the table.
[02:24]
F
From President Volodymyr Zelensky. President Trump expressed optimism the war in Ukraine could soon end.
[02:31]
G
It'll be a great honor to get it done. And the Ukrainian people are great, and the Russian people are great.
[02:37]
F
The president spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for more than two hours on Thursday, both leaders agreeing to a summit later this month in Hungary. On his social media page, President Trump says both sides need to come to an agreement, stop where they are, let both claim victory and let history decide. At the White House, Jared Halpern, Fox News.
[02:58]
A
A Utah Republican becomes the latest of several GOP lawmakers being targeted by somebody sending American flags with Nazi symbols on them.
[03:07]
H
Congressman Mike Kennedy confirms to me his office did receive one of those modified American flags in the form of a Nazi swastika. He tells me an intern in the office received it. Didn't look closely at it enough to know what it was, but a staffer did, and they immediately contacted Capitol Police.
[03:24]
I
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 from the desk and we I took a picture myself and we reported that to Capitol Police.
[03:37]
H
Other Republican congressional representatives have reported receiving the flags, too. We are told Capitol Police continue to investigate the origins of those flags. In Salt Lake City, Ben Winslow, Fox News.
[03:48]
A
President Trump has commuted the sentence of former U.S. representative George Santos. The New York Republican was sentenced in April after admitting last year to deceiving donors and stealing the IDS of 11 people, including his own family members, to make donations to his campaign. Santos was serving more than seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to.
[04:08]
I
Fraud and identity theft charges.
[04:10]
J
I'm Angelo Bavaro, and this is FOX News.