Fox News Hourly Update – 8PM ET, August 26, 2025

Host: FOX News Podcasts
Air Date: August 27, 2025
Episode Theme:
A rapid rundown of the day’s major political, legal, and business headlines with a focus on new federal death penalty policies, law enforcement actions, international diplomacy, corporate decision-making, and ongoing political scandals.

Main Topics & Key Insights

1. President Trump’s Capital Punishment Announcement

• [00:02–00:27]
  • President Trump has announced that the Justice Department will seek the death penalty for murder suspects in Washington, D.C.
    • Lisa Licera: "That's why President Trump says the Justice Department will seek the death penalty for murder suspects in D.C." (00:02)
    • Unnamed Speaker: "Capital capital punishment. If somebody kills somebody in the Capitol. Washington, D.C., we're going to be seeking the death penalty." (00:14)
  • The announcement came during a Cabinet meeting where Trump also touted the effectiveness of a federal “surge” of police, claiming over 1,000 arrests in the district.

2. Major Drug and Weapons Bust in D.C. and California

• [00:27–01:12]
  • US Attorney Jeanine Pirro revealed a significant drug and weapons operation was dismantled across D.C., Maryland, and Los Angeles.
    • Nearly 20 search warrants executed; fentanyl pill press, cocaine, and $50,000 in cash seized.
    • Jeanine Pirro: "The FBI Washington Field Office, along with my office, executed approximately 20 residential search warrants across D.C., Maryland and Los Angeles... fentanyl pill press and cocaine were seized along with $50,000 in cash." (00:27)

3. White House Gaza Talks and Humanitarian Appeal to Hamas

• [01:12–01:22]
  • Special Envoy Steve Witkoff shared that President Trump will chair a major meeting on Gaza and that the administration sees a path forward if Hamas takes basic humanitarian steps.
    • Steve Witkoff: "We've suggested, by the way, that Hamas can begin by feeding the hostages, by giving them medical attention, by letting the Red Cross in, by doing the humane thing." (01:12)
  • Witkoff indicated there is a post-conflict plan for Gaza.

4. Cracker Barrel Reverses Its Rebrand

• [01:22–01:39]
  • Amid backlash, Cracker Barrel announced a return to its original logo and brand identity.
    • Lisa Licera: "Our new logo is going away and our old timer will remain in Texas." (01:39)

5. SpaceX Starship Test Flight

• [01:43–01:53]
  • SpaceX successfully launched the Starship for its tenth test flight.
    • "3, 2, 1. Elon Musk. SpaceX has launched its Starship for a tenth test flight." (01:43)

6. Tennessee Murder Case: Revocation of Bond

• [03:09–03:57]
  • Austin Drummond's bond revoked after being tied to the murder of four family members during his previous bail for attempted murder.
    • Jessica Rosenthal: "He's accused of kidnapping Adriana's seven month old daughter, then abandoning her in a nearby county... cell phone data and surveillance video placed Drummond at the scene of the murders." (03:16)

7. Bob Menendez Expresses Regret from Prison

• [03:57–04:45]
  • Former Senator Bob Menendez wrote to the sentencing judge expressing remorse for blaming his wife during his corruption trial.
    • Grynaul Scott: "He further said in the letter, sending her to prison ignores the trauma she suffered because of their case." (04:04)
  • Menendez’s wife, Nadine, will be sentenced next month; her lawyers seek leniency.

8. First Lady Melania Trump Launches Student AI Contest

• [04:45–05:07]
  • Melania Trump invites K–12 students to a national contest using artificial intelligence, requiring submission of a project that leverages AI tools.
    • Lisa Licera: "Students will sign up at AI starting today, will be required to complete a project using an artificial intelligence method or tool." (04:45)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• President Trump’s stance on capital punishment:

  "Capital capital punishment. If somebody kills somebody in the Capitol... we're going to be seeking the death penalty."
  — Unnamed Speaker, (00:14)

• Steve Witkoff’s call for basic humanitarian acts in Gaza:

  "Hamas can begin by feeding the hostages, by giving them medical attention, by letting the Red Cross in, by doing the humane thing."
  — Steve Witkoff, (01:12)

• Cracker Barrel's apology and brand reversal:

  "Our new logo is going away and our old timer will remain in Texas."
  — Lisa Licera, (01:39)

• Menendez’s regret over his defense strategy:

  "He further said in the letter, sending her to prison ignores the trauma she suffered because of their case."
  — Grynaul Scott, (04:04)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:02] — Trump’s federal death penalty announcement
• [00:27] — Major drug and weapons bust by the FBI/US Attorney
• [01:12] — Gaza talks preview and suggestion for Hamas
• [01:22] — Cracker Barrel brand reversal
• [01:43] — SpaceX Starship test flight
• [03:09] — Austin Drummond murder case update
• [03:57] — Former Sen. Bob Menendez’s penitence and sentencing update
• [04:45] — Melania Trump AI student contest announcement

Summary

This episode delivered concise reports on several major U.S. political, legal, and international developments. President Trump is escalating the federal response to violent crime in D.C. by seeking the death penalty in murder cases, while federal law enforcement made large-scale arrests and drug seizures. On the international front, the U.S. is renewing diplomatic pushes in Gaza, focusing on basic humanitarian actions as prerequisites for progress.

In corporate news, Cracker Barrel reversed its rebranding after public backlash. SpaceX marked another milestone with its Starship test, and a major murder case in Tennessee took a new turn with the revocation of the suspect’s bond. Former Senator Bob Menendez expressed prison remorse surrounding his wife’s upcoming sentencing. First Lady Melania Trump launched a nationwide AI project contest for students, reflecting an emphasis on innovation and education.