8PM ET 10/17/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 8PM ET 10/17/2025 Newscast

Date: October 18, 2025
Host: Lisa Licera
Podcast: FOX News Podcasts

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Episode Overview

This episode covers a range of high-profile international and domestic news stories, including President Trump’s renewed calls to end the Russia-Ukraine war, newly surfaced developments in the Israel-Hamas peace process, the commutation of Jorge Santos’ prison sentence, major legal settlements in Los Angeles County, and updates on Prince Andrew and European legislation. The newscast delivers concise updates with quotes from newsmakers and field correspondents, focusing on ongoing geopolitical tensions, legal developments, and notable public figures.

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Key Discussion Points and Developments

1. Calls for Peace in Ukraine-Russia War

• President Trump’s Statement
  President Trump reiterates his position urging both Russia and Ukraine to immediately cease hostilities and "go home."
  • Quote:

    "You stop at the battle line and both sides should go home, go to their families, stop the killing and that should be it."
    — Donald Trump [00:06]

• Trump’s comments followed his arrival in Florida and a meeting with Ukraine’s President Zelensky; discussion included possible supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine.
• Trump is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin later in the month.

2. Israel-Hamas Conflict and Hostage Developments

• The Israeli military recovered another hostage’s body from Gaza, brought for formal identification in Israel.
• Hamas Activity in Gaza:
  • Benjamin Hall Report:
    Hall describes a resurgence of Hamas control, with reports of violent crackdowns and public executions targeting rival Palestinians.
    • Quote:

      "Hamas reasserting their control inside Gaza... increasing number of videos online that show violent crackdowns... executions of rival Palestinians and Hamas fighters proudly parading their weapons around."
      — Benjamin Hall [00:43]

• Second phase of the Israel-Hamas peace deal would require Hamas disarmament.

3. President Trump Commutes Jorge Santos’ Sentence

• Trump has commuted the sentence of former Rep. Jorge Santos, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud, identity theft, and campaign finance violations.
• Santos Background:
  • Expelled from Congress, sixth such expulsion in history.
  • Santos intends to use his experience as a turning point.
  • Quote:

    "I am determined to use this experience as a turning point in my life."
    — Jorge Santos [01:26]

  • Trump’s statement on Truth Social referenced the sentence as "too harsh" and wished Santos well:

    • "Good luck George. Have a great life."
      — Donald Trump, via Truth Social [01:29]

4. Los Angeles County Sexual Abuse Settlements

• Fox’s Kevin Uretsky reports that LA County reached a tentative $828 million agreement for over 400 sexual abuse claims against county employees.
• Settlement follows the already-recorded largest sexual abuse settlement in US history.

5. US Military Activities in the Caribbean

• The US has taken survivors into custody after striking a suspected drug-running vessel in the Caribbean—the first time survivors escaped alive since similar operations began against waterfront trafficking in Venezuela last month.

6. Prince Andrew Renounces Royal Title

• Context:
  Renewed allegations from an upcoming memoir by Virginia Giuffre (who died by suicide earlier this year) prompted Prince Andrew to relinquish his “Duke of York” title and other honors.
• The memoir alleges trafficking by Jeffrey Epstein and accusations against Andrew. The prince still denies wrongdoing.
• Background Quote:
  • “At that time he said he could not recall ever having met her, though there is a famous photo of the two from 24 years ago.”
    — Jessica Rosenthal [02:51]

7. Portugal Passes Ban on Face Veils

• Parliament approved a bill banning face veils—such as burkas and full-face Islamic veils—in public spaces (excluding planes, diplomatic venues, and places of worship). The proposal comes from the far right and places Portugal alongside other European nations with similar bans.

8. Brigitte Bardot Hospitalization

• The 91-year-old French film legend was hospitalized for a serious illness but is now recovering at home in Saint Tropez.
  • Bardot thanked her doctors and staff for their care, per the French news agency AFP.

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Notable Quotes

• Donald Trump on Ukraine War:

  “You stop at the battle line and both sides should go home, go to their families, stop the killing and that should be it.” [00:06]

• Benjamin Hall on Hamas:

  “Hamas reasserting their control inside Gaza... executions of rival Palestinians and Hamas fighters proudly parading their weapons around.” [00:43]

• Jorge Santos on Turning Point:

  “I am determined to use this experience as a turning point in my life.” [01:26]

• Trump to Santos (Truth Social):

  “Good luck George. Have a great life.” [01:29]

• Jessica Rosenthal on Prince Andrew Allegations:

  “At that time he said he could not recall ever having met her, though there is a famous photo of the two...” [02:51]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:06 – Trump urges immediate Russia-Ukraine war ceasefire.
• 00:43 – Hamas consolidating control; reports of violent crackdowns in Gaza.
• 01:16 – Trump commutes Jorge Santos’ sentence; Santos responds.
• 01:39 – LA County settles new sexual abuse claims for $828M.
• 02:30 – US military action in Caribbean; survivors taken into custody.
• 02:51 – Prince Andrew relinquishes royal title following Epstein-related allegations.
• 03:31 – Portugal passes sweeping ban on face veils in public.
• 04:02 – Brigitte Bardot's health update.

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Tone and Language

The episode uses succinct, direct reporting interspersed with official statements and on-the-ground correspondents. The tone is serious, urgent, and unsensational—emphasizing factual clarity and rapid summarization.

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For those who missed the episode, this update delivers a quick, information-rich sweep across breaking global and US news, covering politics, legal affairs, violence in conflict zones, and notable public figures.

Transcript

[Lisa Licera]

It's time to end the war. I'm Lisa Licera, FOX News.

[Donald Trump]

You stop at the battle line and both sides should go home, go to their families, stop the killing and that should be it.

[Lisa Licera]

President Trump again calling on Russia and Ukraine to end the war. The president with a comment after landing in Florida, where we will spend the weekend. This afternoon we met with Ukraine's President Zelensky as he considers giving Ukraine long range missiles. President Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this month. The Israeli military says it's received the body of another hostage from Gaza. It will be taken to the national center for Forensic Medicine in Israel for formal identification as Hamas shows no signs of laying down its arms.

[Benjamin Hall]

What we are starting to see is Hamas reasserting their control inside Gaza. And over the last few days, we've seen an increasing number of videos online that show violent crackdowns that have involved executions of rival Palestinians and Hamas fighters proudly parading their weapons around Pakistan's Benjamin Hall.

[Lisa Licera]

Phase two of the peace deal between Israel in Hamas calls for the terror group to disarm. President Trump has commuted the prison sentence of disgraced former congressman Jorge Santos. The Republican pled guilty last year to wire fraud, identity theft and campaign finance violations.

[Jorge Santos]

He became just the sixth representative in history to be expelled from the US House and said this on the day he pleaded guilty in August 2024 I.

Am determined to use this experience as a turning point in my life.

In a posting on Truth Social, the president stated Santos sentence was too harsh, ordered him released from prison immediately and wrote, good luck George. Have a great life.

[Lisa Licera]

Fox's Kevin Uretsky Los Angeles county has reached a tentative $828 million agreement to settle more than 400 additional sexual abuse claims against county employees months after approving the largest sexual abuse settlement in U.S. history. America's listening to Fox.

[LegalZoom Announcer]

Life is more legal than you think and LegalZoom is here to help. From setting up a will to secure your family's future to taking the next step with your business and registering as an LLC or sorting the permits to legally rent it from home. Or maybe not. When you need a legal hand, turn to LegalZoom. Visit legalzoom.com LegalZoom provides access to independent attorneys and self service tools. LegalZoom is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Visit legalzoom.com.

[Lisa Licera]

The US has taken survivors into custody after the military struck a suspected drug carrying vessel in the Caribbean. It's the first known attack that anyone escaped alive since the strikes in the waterfront Venezuela began last month. Prince Andrew giving up his royal title after renewed accusations surfaced. In a new book tying him to Jeffrey Epstein.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

Prince Andrew says he's giving up his Duke of York title, among others. An upcoming memoir by Virginia Giuffre, who committed suicide this year, contains more details about her allegations that she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein as a teenager to Prince Andrew when she was 17. While the prince has already stepped away from public life, he says the king agrees he must go a step further and no longer use his title or the honors conferred upon him. However, he still denies any wrongdoing. Giuffre sued Andrew four years ago, and at that time he said he could not recall ever having met her, though there is a famous photo of the two from 24 years ago with Epstein's girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, in the background. Jessica Rosenthal, FOX News Portugal's parliament has.

[Lisa Licera]

Approved a bill banning face veils worn for gender or religious reasons in public. The measure was proposed by the far right party and would prohibit coverings such as burkas and the full face Islamic veil from being worn in most public places. Face veils would still be allowed in airplanes, diplomatic premises and places of worship. If signed at the law, Portugal would join a number of European countries who have full or partial bans on face and head coverings. French film icon Brigitte Bardot hospitalized following what's being called a serious illness.

[AFP Reporter]

The 91 year old actress, best known for her sultry appearances in films during the 50s and 60s, was rushed to the hospital about three weeks ago, according to the Daily Mail, where she also underwent minor surgery. French news agency AFP now saying that Bardot is recovering in her Saint Tropez home and she thanked both the staff and the surgical team for their care.

[Lisa Licera]

Fox's Anna Elianpoulos. I'm Lisa La Sara. This is FOX News.

[LegalZoom Announcer]

Life is more legal than you think and LegalZoom is here to help. From setting up a will to secure your family's future to taking the next step with your business and registering as an LLC or sorting the permits to legally rent it from home. Or maybe not. When you need a legal hand, turn to LegalZoom. Visit legalzoom.com LegalZoom provides access to independent attorneys and self service tools. LegalZoom is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Visit legalzoom.com.