8PM ET 09/02/2025 Newscast

Summary

---

Fox News Hourly Update – 8PM ET 09/02/2025 Newscast

Air Date: September 3, 2025
Host: Lisa Licera, FOX News Podcasts

---

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise roundup of the day’s biggest national and international headlines, focusing on recent U.S. military action against a Venezuelan gang, developments in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, domestic crime initiatives, political news, a high-profile celebrity verdict, and McDonald's pricing adjustments. The tone is urgent and matter-of-fact, with direct quotes from leading politicians and newsmakers.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Strike on Venezuelan Gang Targets

• [00:01] Lisa Licera reports that U.S. Forces conducted a successful military strike against the Trenda Aragua gang in international waters near Venezuela, resulting in the deaths of 11 gang members.
• [00:22] Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasizes a hardline stance against drug cartels operating in regions impacting the U.S.
  • Quote: “As long as those vessels are in the region and as long as the president is in the White House, he's made very clear he's not going to allow the United States to continue to be flooded with cocaine and fentanyl and other drugs coming from different places. This one from Venezuela.” (Marco Rubio, 00:22)
• President Trump confirms on Truth Social that no U.S. casualties occurred and frames the strike as a deterrent for drug traffickers.

2. Jeffrey Epstein Case Files Released

• [00:33] Over 33,000 pages of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case were made public by the House Oversight Committee.
• [00:50] Committee Chair James Comer claims this is “the most thorough investigation into Epstein and Maxwell to date and we are getting results.” (James Comer, 00:50)
• Files include audio from an Epstein employee discussing young girls frequently visiting Epstein's home, though the witness couldn’t confirm if they were minors.
• Bipartisan efforts in Congress seek to require the Justice Department to release all case information, with privacy provisions for victims.

3. National Guard Deployment to Chicago and Baltimore

• [01:26] Trump administration plans to send the National Guard to Chicago and Baltimore to fight crime, following a federal judge's earlier ruling against such deployments in Los Angeles.
  • Quote: “Well, we're going in. I didn't say when we're going in. When you lose. Look, I have an obligation. This isn't a political thing.” (James Comer, 01:26)
• The deployment comes under legal and political scrutiny due to the recent court ruling.

4. Cardi B Cleared in Civil Lawsuit

• [01:32] Rapper Cardi B was found not liable by a California jury in a $24 million civil suit brought by a security guard over an incident in 2018.

5. Potomac Plane Crash Debris Investigation

• [02:29] Police in Alexandria, Virginia, investigate whether new debris found along the Potomac River is from the deadly January plane crash involving an American Airlines jet and a Blackhawk helicopter.
  • Quote: “To be like a lever that would it look like for the tray table like you would see on a plane. And there had to be to be like a leather pouch at the bottom and just the curvature of the top of it. It very much looked like an airplane seat.” (Andrew Guevara, 02:49)

6. Congressional Campaign News in Pennsylvania

• [03:15] Democratic Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti launches a bid for Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional district, targeting incumbent Republican Rob Bresnahan for alleged stock-trading conflicts.
  • Quote: “I say day trading away. The public trust is not who we are. So yeah, I'm running for Congress because people here deserve a lot better than a rich kid disrespecting our hard work and proud legacy.” (Paige Cognetti, 03:37)
• The GOP’s National Republican Congressional Committee issues a statement framing Cognetti as “extreme” and “weak on border and health care issues.”

7. McDonald's Announces Price Cuts on Extra Value Meals

• [03:58] McDonald's plans to reduce prices by 15% on select combo meals starting September 8, a move following a 40% price increase across menu items from 2019 to 2024.
• Price reductions cover bundled meals, with costs varying by location.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Marco Rubio ([00:22]): “...he's made very clear he's not going to allow the United States to continue to be flooded with cocaine and fentanyl...”
• James Comer ([00:50]): “This is the most thorough investigation into Epstein and Maxwell to date and we are getting results.”
• Paige Cognetti ([03:37]): “Day trading away the public trust is not who we are...”

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:01: U.S. Military strike against Venezuelan gang
• 00:33: Jeffrey Epstein case files released, key details
• 01:26: National Guard deployment to Chicago and Baltimore
• 01:32: Cardi B cleared in civil lawsuit
• 02:29: Police investigate Potomac plane crash debris
• 03:15: Scranton mayor launches congressional bid
• 03:58: McDonald's extra value meal price cuts

---

Closing Notes

This broadcast highlights Fox News Radio’s rapid-fire approach to breaking news, emphasizing developments in international security, criminal justice, politics, and consumer economics with select direct quotes from top government officials and newsmakers. It delivers essential facts for listeners seeking to keep up with headline stories and political discourse in real time.

---

Transcript

[Lisa Licera]

US Forces striking a Venezuelan gang. I'm Lisa Licera of Fox News. President Trump says 11 members of Trenda Aragua were killed at a US military strike in international waters off Venezuela's coast. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US Will take on drug cartels wherever they are and wherever they're operating against the interests of the United States.

[Marco Rubio]

As long as those vessels are in the region and as long as the president is in the White House, he's made very clear he's not going to allow the United States to continue to be flooded with cocaine and fentanyl and other drugs coming from different places. This one from Venezuela.

[Lisa Licera]

The president posted on Truth Social that no US Forces were harmed in the strike. And he wrote that this should serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the US more than 33,000 pages of records related to the Jeffrey Epstein case released by the House Oversight Committee.

[James Comer]

This is the most thorough investigation into Epstein and Maxwell to date and we are getting results.

[Lisa Licera]

Oversight Committee Chair James Comer. The files include audio of an Epstein employee describing to law enforcement that there a lot of very young girls visiting Epstein's home. But he couldn't say for sure that they were minors. This is Democrats and some Republicans are trying to force a vote on a bill that would require the Justice Department to release all the information in the files except for the personal information of the victims. President Trump says he's sending the National Guard to Chicago and Baltimore to help combat crime.

[James Comer]

Well, we're going in. I didn't say when we're going in. When you lose. Look, I have an obligation. This isn't a political thing.

[Lisa Licera]

This coming after a federal judge ruled the administration broke the law into deploying the Guard to LA this summer. Rapper Cardi B has been cleared by a California jury of allegations of assault in a $24 million civil lawsuit brought against her by a security guard over an encounter outside a Beverly Hills doctor's office in 2018. America is listening to Fox News.

[Paige Cognetti]

Creating your own business is 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. LegalZoom has already helped launch, run and protect millions of businesses. LegalZoom. Now you're in business. Get everything you need from setup to [e-mail] LegalZoom provides access to independent attorneys and self service tools. LegalZoom is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice except we're authorized through its subsidiary law firm, LZ Legal Services llc.

[Lisa Licera]

Police in Virginia are looking into whether debris found along the Potomac river is from a deadly plane crash earlier this year.

[Andrew Guevara]

People walking along the Potomac often see debris and trash by the river, but Andrew Guevara says he saw something distinct while walking his dog on the Mount Vernon Trail in Alexandria. He told Fox 5 DC there happened.

[Andrew Guevara (continued)]

To be like a lever that would it look like for the tray table like you would see on a plane. And there had to be to be like a leather pouch at the bottom and just the curvature of the top of it. It very much looked like an airplane seat.

[Andrew Guevara]

Now police in Alexandria are investigating if it was from the crash between the American Airlines jet and a Blackhawk helicopter outside Reagan International this past January in which 67 people were killed. Jessica Rosenthal, FOX News.

[Lisa Licera]

The Democratic mayor in Pennsylvania announces a congressional bid for the midterm elections next year.

[Granal Scott]

Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti announced in a video on X she will seek Pennsylvania's 8th district House seat now held by first term Republican Rob Bresnahan. In her video, she accused Bresnahan of being a prolific stock trader who she says ran for office on a promise to ban the practice.

[Paige Cognetti]

I say day trading away. The public trust is not who we are. So yeah, I'm running for Congress because people here deserve a lot better than a rich kid disrespecting our hard work and proud legacy.

[Granal Scott]

In a responding statement, the National Republican Congressional Committee painted Cognetti as an extreme candidate who is weak on border and health care issues. Granal Scott, Fox News.

[Lisa Licera]

McDonald's is lowering prices. The company says starting September 8th, it allow for extra value meals, which combine select entrees like a Big Mac or Egg McMuffin with medium fries or hash browns and a drink. Prices will vary by but McDonald's said extra value meals will cost 15% less than ordering each of those items separately. The company says the average price of its menu items rose 40% between 2019 and 2024. I'm Lisa Licera. This is FOX News.

[NetSuite Oracle Advertiser]

What does the future hold for business? Ask nine experts and you'll get 10 answers. Bull market, bear market. Inflation's up or down. Can someone please invent a crystal ball? Until then, over 42,000 businesses have future proof their business with NetSuite by Oracle, the number one Cloud ERP bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR into one fluid platform with one unified business management suite. There's one source of truth giving you the visibility and control you need to make quick decisions. With real time insights and forecasting, you're peering into the future with actionable data. When you're closing the books in days, not weeks, you're spending less time looking backwards and more time on what's next. Whether your company is earning millions or even hundreds of millions, NetSuite helps you respond to immediate challenges and seize your biggest opportunities. Speaking of opportunity, download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning at netsuite.com fox the guide is free to you at netsuite.com fox netsuite.com fox.