Fox News Hourly Update – 8PM ET 07/24/2025 Newscast Summary
Release Date: July 25, 2025
The Fox News Hourly Update aired an engaging and comprehensive newscast on the evening of July 24, 2025. Hosted by Lisa Licera and featuring reports from Jared Halpern, Brendan Carr, Daria Albinger, Ryan Schmelz, and Granal Scott, the episode covered a wide array of pressing national and local issues. Below is a detailed summary of the key topics discussed, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps for reference.
1. Federal Budget Rescissions
Lisa Licera opened the newscast with significant news on federal budget adjustments:
"President Trump has signed off on stripping $9 billion from public broadcasting and foreign aid that was already approved by Congress." [00:02]
Jared Halpern provided further details:
"Republicans in the House and Senate narrowly approved the rescissions bill last week. The package rolls back about $8 billion in USAID and other foreign assistance programs and $1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that supports PBS and NPR and local public radio." [00:13]
He also mentioned that additional rescission requests from President Trump are anticipated, indicating a potential further reduction in federal expenditures on these programs.
2. President Trump's Critique of the Federal Reserve
Continuing the budget discussion, Lisa Licera reported on President Trump's interactions with the Federal Reserve:
"After criticizing the cost of renovations to the building that houses the Federal Reserve, President Trump visited it today and met with Chair Jerome Powell." [00:36]
Jerome Powell responded to Trump's claims regarding renovation costs:
Powell disputed the president's claim of the "$3 billion price tag."
President Trump also voiced his dissatisfaction with the Federal Reserve's interest rate policies:
"Every point is worth $365 billion, so we want to get the rates down." [00:36]
However, Trump stated he would not seek to replace Powell before his term concludes in May next year, maintaining the current leadership at the Federal Reserve.
3. Tragic Incident in Lorraine, Ohio
The newscast reported a heartbreaking incident involving law enforcement:
Lisa Licera stated:
"A Lorraine, Ohio police officer has died after a man who was lying in wait ambushed him and another officer as they were parked and eating pizza." [00:36]
Officer Philip Wagner was grievously injured and transported to a trauma center, while his partner and another responding officer sustained wounds. The assailant, Michael Joseph Parker, was neutralized in a gun battle, ending the immediate threat.
4. Media Consolidation: Paramount and Skydance Agreement
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made headlines with the approval of a major media merger:
Jared Halpern reported:
"The FCC has signed off on an agreement between Paramount and Skydance Media." [00:36]
Brendan Carr, FCC Chair, elaborated on the implications:
"The approval creates a mega media conglomerate which includes entities like CBS, Paramount Pictures, and Nickelodeon. Skydance has promised to ensure a variety of viewpoints across the political and ideological spectrum, adding, 'Americans no longer trust the legacy national news media to report fully, accurately, and fairly.'" [01:31]
This consolidation signifies a substantial shift in the media landscape, potentially impacting how information is disseminated across various platforms.
5. Political Investigations into the Obama Administration
Lisa Licera transitioned to political developments, highlighting Republican scrutiny of the previous administration:
"Fox Republican senators demand an investigation into the Obama Administration." [03:05]
Ryan Schmelz provided further context:
Senators Lindsey Graham and John Cornyn are advocating for a special counsel to be appointed by Pam Bondi following a report by Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence. Gabbard's report alleges that the Obama administration manipulated information to exacerbate accusations of collusion between President Trump and Russia during the 2016 election.
"The senators say the information contained in the report shows, 'it becomes more evident that the entire Russia collusion hoax was created by the Obama administration to subvert the will of the American people.'" [03:13]
A spokesperson for President Obama dismissed these allegations as:
"Bizarre, ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction." [03:13]
Gabbard has referred her findings to the Justice Department, intensifying the calls for an independent investigation.
6. UnitedHealth Group Under Federal Investigation
In the corporate sector, Lisa Licera reported on ongoing investigations:
"UnitedHealth Group says it's cooperating with federal criminal and civil investigations involving its Medicare business." [03:52]
The Wall Street Journal has been tracking these developments, focusing on how the company records diagnoses that may lead to extra payments for its Medicare Advantage plans. This scrutiny could have significant financial and reputational implications for UnitedHealth Group.
7. Marijuana Regulation in New York City
Local governance and public health were discussed as Lisa Licera introduced Mayor Eric Adams' new stance on marijuana consumption:
"New York City Mayor Eric Adams says he wants to restrict where marijuana can be smoked in the city." [03:52]
During an appearance on a New York Post podcast, Mayor Adams elaborated:
"While marijuana is legal to buy in the city, I feel there should only be certain areas where people can light up, not throughout the entire street because you still smell it everywhere." [04:21]
He referred to the pervasive odor as a negative impact of the New York State cannabis law. Public opinion appears divided, with some citizens like a concerned parent remarked:
"If I'm with my daughter, then yes, it absolutely bothers me because I don't want her to be exposed to it." [04:41]
Conversely, others, such as Granual Scott, find the aroma more pleasant:
"It's one of the better smells to, to be honest with you." [04:47]
Mayor Adams emphasized adherence to existing state laws which prohibit smoking marijuana in cars, restaurants, or on federal property.
8. Legal and Business Updates
Granal Scott provided insights into business legalities and support services:
"Creating your own business, everything, getting it registered and compliant, not so much. LegalZoom has everything you need to launch, run and protect your business all in one place." [05:05]
LegalZoom offers comprehensive services to assist entrepreneurs in establishing and managing their businesses, ensuring they remain compliant with legal requirements.
Conclusion
The July 24, 2025 episode of the Fox News Hourly Update delivered a robust array of news stories, ranging from federal budget changes and political investigations to local legislative actions and corporate investigations. With detailed reporting and direct quotes from key figures, the newscast provided listeners with a thorough understanding of the current events shaping the national and local landscape.