Fox News Hourly Update – 8PM ET 08/17/2025 Newscast

Date: August 18, 2025
Host: Daria Albinger (FOX News Radio)
Summary of Main Theme:
This hourly update covers major breaking and developing news from the US and around the world. Key topics include international diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine conflict, a tragic incident involving cruise ship tourists, Hurricane Aaron’s status, a deadly Brooklyn nightclub shooting tied to local politics, California’s counter-redistricting campaign, and the Pope’s charitable actions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. International Diplomatic Push: Ukraine, the White House, and Ending the War

• Upcoming Summit at the White House (00:02–00:50)
  • Participants: Leaders from Ukraine, the EU, NATO, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Britain, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
  • Objective: To seek an end to the war in Ukraine.
  • Insight: Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlights the complexity of the issues, particularly regarding territorial lines and Ukraine’s military alliances.
  • Quote:
    • Marco Rubio (00:26):
      “These are hard issues that remain ... the conversation about where the territorial lines are going to be, questions about long term security guarantees and who Ukraine can have military alliances with, things like that. These are difficult things. But I do believe we made progress in narrowing down the issue set. But there's a lot of work that remains.”
  • Related updates: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy meets with European leaders in Brussels—some joining virtually.

2. Cruise Ship Tragedy: Deaths in the Bahamas

• Incident at Celebration Key (00:56–01:33)
  • Details: Two Carnival cruise passengers drowned at Celebration Key, a private island for cruise guests.
    • One, a 74-year-old woman drowned in a pool.
    • Another, a 79-year-old man died while snorkeling.
    • Lifeguards attempted CPR, but neither could be revived.
  • Context: Celebration Key is a new tourist draw, expected to see over 2 million annual visitors, with more expansions in the pipeline.
  • Memorable Detail: A 10-story sandcastle and extensive entertainment facilities highlight the scale of tourism at the site.

3. Hurricane Aaron: Update on Major Storm

• Storm Status (01:33–01:59)
  • Current position: Hurricane Aaron has dropped to Category 3 (winds up to 125 mph) after previously reaching Category 5.
  • US Impact: Forecasters do not expect a direct US strike, but significant potential for damage remains.

4. Brooklyn Nightclub Shooting: Crime and Local Politics

• Details on Incident (03:21–04:08)
  • What Happened: At least four shooters opened fire at a Brooklyn lounge; identified as a likely gang-related shooting.
  • Community Response: Crisis management teams have been dispatched to prevent further violence.
  • Political Impact:
    • Crime is a core issue for the upcoming NYC mayoral election (under 3 months away).
    • Mayor candidate Zoram Mamdani, stepping back from previous “defund the police” rhetoric, praises first responders and promotes “violence interrupters.”
    • Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa positions himself as the “only candidate with the courage to restore law and order.”
  • Quote:
    • Curtis Sliwa (via statement, 03:54):
      "I'm the only candidate with the courage to restore law and order in New York City."

5. California's Countermove: Redistricting and Congressional Maps

• Political Maneuvering (04:08–04:50)
  • Situation: California lawmakers plan to approve new congressional maps, to be voted on in a November special election.
  • Reason: Designed to offset a Texas Republican effort—backed by President Trump—to flip five Democratic seats and help retain GOP House control.
  • Political Stakes: Both parties underscore the narrowness of the House majority and growing national focus on redistricting.

6. Pope Leo XIV’s Acts of Charity

• End of Vacation Marked by Service (04:50–05:18)
  • Pope’s Activities:
    • Celebrated a special mass for refugees, the homeless, and the poor.
    • Hosted a lunch of lasagna and roast veal for more than 100 disadvantaged individuals at the Vatican’s lakeside estate.
  • Partnership: Event organized via the Caritas Church charity.
  • Quote:
    • Daria Albinger summarizing (05:09):
      “The leader of the world’s Roman Catholics celebrated a special mass for them and then he invited them to the Vatican's lakeside estate for a lunch of lasagna and roast veal."

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:02] – Ukraine peace summit preview, Secretary Rubio’s comments
• [00:56] – Bahamas cruise ship drownings investigation
• [01:33] – Hurricane Aaron weakening update
• [03:21] – Report on Brooklyn nightclub shooting, political response
• [04:08] – California’s counter-redistricting to Texas GOP efforts
• [04:50] – Pope Leo XIV’s lunch with poor and refugees

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “These are hard issues that remain ... But there’s a lot of work that remains.”
  (Marco Rubio, 00:26, on Ukraine peace talks)
• “I'm the only candidate with the courage to restore law and order in New York City.”
  (Curtis Sliwa, 03:54, on the NYC mayoral election)

Tone & Delivery

The episode maintains a brisk, high-information, factual tone—typical of Fox News hourly updates—delivering succinct news with direct quotes, clear attributions, and minimal commentary.

This summary omits ad reads and focuses on core news content for listener usefulness and clear insight into current events.