8PM ET 09/25/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 8PM ET 09/25/2025 Newscast

Date: September 26, 2025
Host: Lisa Lacera (with Jared Halpern, David Spunt, Jennifer Griffin, Ryan Schmell, Therese Crowley)

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Overview

This episode covers major breaking news and key national updates within a concise newscast format. Highlights include the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, sweeping tariff announcements by President Trump, an unprecedented Pentagon meeting called by the Secretary of War, political moves in Congress, the Farmer’s Almanac winter forecast, and an upcoming Jim Henson auction.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. James Comey Indicted for Obstruction and False Statements

• Breaking News:
  Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted on charges of obstruction of justice and making false statements regarding his testimony to Congress during the Trump-Russia investigation.

• Details:

  • Charges relate to September 30, 2020 testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
  • The statute of limitations for lying to Congress is five years, making the timing notable.
  • President Trump, posting on Truth Social, states Comey is “being held accountable for his crimes.”

• Quote:

  “They got this in right under the deadline.” — Jared Halpern [00:15]

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2. President Trump Announces Major New Tariffs

• Details:

  • Announced new tariffs:
    • 50% on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities
    • 30% on upholstered furniture
    • 25% on heavy trucks (effective October 1st)
    • Threatened 100% import tax on pharmaceutical drugs if companies don’t build plants in the U.S.
  • Reflects the administration’s strong stance on protectionist trade policies.

• Quote:

  “…President just announcing another sweeping round of tariffs…” — Lisa Lacera [00:39]

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3. Hundreds of Generals Ordered to an Unusual Pentagon Gathering

• Details:

  • Around 800 generals, admirals, and senior enlisted aides summoned to an in-person meeting with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at Marine Base Quantico.
  • The purpose of the meeting is undisclosed, raising anxiety across leadership ranks.
  • Background: Secretary Hegseth has a reputation for “angry outbursts” and has threatened polygraph tests.
  • Concerns voiced: security risks in gathering top brass in one location; questioning why a video teleconference isn’t used.

• Quote:

  “…sent shockwaves through an already fearful officer corps who have been on the receiving end of angry outbursts by Secretary Hegseth…” — Jennifer Griffin [01:12]

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4. Articles of Impeachment Planned Against HHS Secretary

• Details:

  • Representative Haley Stevens (D-MI) to draft impeachment articles against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.
  • Accusations: jeopardizing public health, increasing healthcare costs, and cutting medical research.
  • Political context: Impeachment unlikely with Republican control of Congress; the administration defends its policy as “shaking up the medical world.”

• Quote:

  “Kennedy stands little chance of being impeached with Republicans controlling Congress.” — Ryan Schmell [02:36]

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5. 2025 Winter Forecast from the Old Farmer’s Almanac

• Highlights:

  • Most of the country to experience near or slightly above-normal temperatures; overall, drier conditions expected.
  • Specifics:
    • West Coast & Arizona: mild and dry
    • Plains to Texas and Chicago: mild and dry; upper Midwest similar
    • Kentucky to Pennsylvania: cold and dry
    • Ohio to North Carolina: snowy patch
    • Florida: cold and wet
    • Mountain West: mild and wet
    • New Mexico & Northern Arizona: mild and snowy
    • Mid Atlantic through New England: mild and dry
  • Almanac professes 80% forecast accuracy, based on "solar activity, moon cycles, and position of the planets.”

• Quote:

  “But your accuracy may vary.” — Therese Crowley [03:15]

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6. Jim Henson Company to Auction Historic Puppets and Props

• Details:

  • For the first time, artifacts from Jim Henson’s career will be auctioned.
  • Iconic items include puppets and props from Muppet characters, as part of the company’s 70th anniversary celebrations.
  • Online bidding opens October 22nd.

• Memorable Exchange:

  “It’s time to play the music.” — Lisa Lacera [03:57]
  “It’s time to light the light.” — Jared Halpern [03:59]

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Lisa Lacera [00:01]:
  “James Comey indicted on charges of obstruction of justice and making false statements over testimony he gave to Congress in the Trump Russia investigation.”
• Jared Halpern [00:15]:
  “They got this in right under the deadline.”
• Jennifer Griffin [01:12]:
  “…sent shockwaves through an already fearful officer corps who have been on the receiving end of angry outbursts by Secretary Hegseth…”
• Ryan Schmell [02:36]:
  “Kennedy stands little chance of being impeached with Republicans controlling Congress.”
• Therese Crowley [03:15]:
  “But your accuracy may vary.”
• Lisa Lacera & Jared Halpern [03:57-04:00]:
  “It’s time to play the music.” / “It’s time to light the light.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:01: Breaking News: James Comey indicted
• 00:39: President Trump announces tariffs
• 01:12: Pentagon summons top brass
• 02:36: Impeachment articles announced
• 03:15: Winter forecast from the Old Farmer’s Almanac
• 03:57: Jim Henson archives auction announced

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Conclusion

This newscast delivered rapid updates on major political, economic, defense, and cultural stories shaping the nation. The tone was brisk and serious, with brief moments of levity. Listeners are kept informed on the latest headlines, with clear reporting and concise analysis.

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Transcript

[Lisa Lacera]

This is a FOX News alert. Charges filed against a former FBI director. I'm Lisa Lacera. James Comey indicted on charges of obstruction of justice and making false statements over testimony he gave to Congress in the Trump Russia investigation.

[Jared Halpern]

We're told that it relates to a September 30, 2020 testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. And that date is very specific because this coming Tuesday is five years to the day after that testimony. And a statute of limitations for lying to Congress or lying to a federal official is exactly five years. So they got this in right under the deadline.

[Lisa Lacera]

Fox's David Spont. In a post on Truth Social, President Trump wrote that Comey is being held accountable for his crimes. The president just announcing another sweeping round of tariffs, including 50% on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities. 3, 30% on upholstered furniture and 25% on heavy trucks starting October 1st. And the president says he'll put 100% import tax on pharmaceutical drugs unless their manufacturers are building plants in the U.S. hundreds of generals summoned to Virginia for a meeting with Secretary of War Pete hexseth next week.

[Jennifer Griffin]

800 generals, admirals, and their senior enlisted aides have been ordered from their post around the world to Washington, D.C. to gather in an auditorium at Marine Base Quantico in in Virginia on Tuesday. The officers have not been told what the meeting is about. The invitation has sent shockwaves through an already fearful officer corps who have been on the receiving end of angry outbursts by Secretary Hegseth, who routinely threatens to submit them to polygraphs. Some express concerns that bringing all the military brass to One location in D.C. is an unnecessary security risk and question why the meeting cannot be held on a secure video teleconference.

[Lisa Lacera]

Call fox's Jennifer Griffin of the Pentagon. America is listening to Fox News.

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[Lisa Lacera]

A House Democrat plans to file articles of impeachment against a controversial member of the Trump administration.

[Ryan Schmell]

Congresswoman Haley Stevens says Health and Human Services secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. S, quote, efforts to jeopardize public health, increase the cost of health care and cut critical medical research are grounds for impeachment. The Michigan Democrat and Senate candidate says she plans to draft articles of impeachment against Secretary Kennedy, Senate saying he's making our country less safe. Kennedy stands little chance of being impeached with Republicans controlling Congress. The Trump administration says it's trying to shake up the medical world to make America healthy again. In Washington, Ryan Schmell's FOX News the.

[Lisa Lacera]

Old Farmer's Almanac winter forecast is in.

[Therese Crowley]

Temperatures near normal to slightly mild across much of the country. Overall drier than normal, mapping 18 regions mild and dry down the west coast into Arizona, mild and dry from the Plains to Texas Chicago in the upper Midwest, but cold and dry from Kentucky through Pennsylvania, with a snowy patch from Ohio to North Carolina. Cold and wet for Florida, mild and wet for the Mountain west, mild and snowy for New Mexico and northern Arizona, and mild and dry for the Mid Atlantic through New England. The Old Farmers Almanac claims 80% accuracy with an old time formula of solar activity, moon cycles and position of the planets. But your accuracy may vary. Therese Crowley, FOX NEWS and it's time.

[Lisa Lacera]

To play the music.

[Jared Halpern]

It's time to light the light.

[Lisa Lacera]

Puppets and prompts from the Muppets creator Jim Henson's career will go up for auction this fall. The Jim Henson Company says this will be the first auction from its archives. Jim Henson, who died in 1990 at age 53, brought many beloved characters to TV, from Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy to the sweetest chef. The auction comes as the company is celebrating its 70th anniversary. Online bidding begins October 22nd. I'm Lisa Licera. This is FOX News.

[Jared Halpern]

I'm Jared Halpern. Today on the FOX News rundown, the Trump administration is turning away from renewable energy to supercharge the electric grid. We speak with Energy Secretary Chris wright. Go to foxnewsrundown.com to listen and follow.