9PM ET 11/18/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 9PM ET 11/18/2025 Newscast

Host: Lisa Licera
Date: November 19, 2025
Podcast: FOX News Podcasts

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Episode Overview

This fast-paced newscast delivers key national and global headlines, including President Trump’s announcement granting Saudi Arabia "major non-NATO ally" status, Congressional action on Jeffrey Epstein records, global security updates, a trending new "Word of the Year," and more. Straight reporting, quick soundbites, and a focus on top developments characterize the episode.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Designates Saudi Arabia as Major Non-NATO Ally

Timestamps: 00:02 – 00:32

• Announcement: President Trump designates Saudi Arabia a major non-NATO ally at a White House dinner with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
• Implications: Though largely symbolic, this status strengthens trade and security cooperation. Other nations with the status include Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand.
• Context: The announcement follows a day of meetings and a U.S. agreement to sell fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.
• Diplomatic Tension: When pressed about U.S. intelligence linking the Crown Prince to Jamal Khashoggi's killing, both the Saudi government and Trump deny the allegation.

"A stronger and more capable alliance will advance the interests of both countries ... and we've never had and been so close to truly everlasting peace in the Middle East."
— President Donald Trump [00:18]

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2. Congressional Action on Jeffrey Epstein Files

Timestamps: 01:11 – 01:40

• Congressional Approval: Legislation requiring the Justice Department to release its records on Jeffrey Epstein passes Senate (unanimous consent) and House (near-unanimous).
• Bi-Partisan Framing: Senator Schumer emphasizes the effort is nonpartisan, focused on transparency.
• Presidential Response: Trump, who once opposed the measure, now voices support for transparency but suggests Democrats are using the issue to divert attention from his administration’s successes.

"Let the truth come out, let transparency reign."
— President Donald Trump [01:23]

"The bill is not about one party or the other."
— Chuck Schumer [01:27]

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3. International News Briefs

Timestamps: 01:40 – 02:00, 02:31 – 03:31

• Japan Wildfire: Firefighters battle an out-of-control blaze in southwest Japan; over 170 residents evacuated.
• Nigeria Kidnapping: Of 25 schoolgirls abducted in northwest Nigeria, one escaped and is safely home. The principal adds another girl fled during the attack and was not kidnapped.

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4. UN Endorses Gaza Peace Plan, Draws Mixed Reactions

Timestamps: 02:51 – 03:31

• Historic Recognition: The UN Security Council mandates an international stabilization force for Gaza and endorses President Trump’s peace proposal.
• Reactions:
  • Israeli PM Netanyahu publicly praises Trump and U.S. efforts on X (formerly Twitter).
  • Hamas condemns the move, arguing the force won’t be neutral.
  • The resolution outlines a future path toward an independent Palestine, an idea strongly opposed by Israel’s leadership.

"He and the state of Israel applaud President Donald Trump and his tireless and devoted team."
— Jonathan Savage, on Netanyahu's statement [02:51]

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5. Major Cloudflare Outage Disrupts Multiple Services

Timestamps: 03:31 – 03:50

• Widespread Impact: Cloudflare resolves an outage affecting ChatGPT, League of Legends, New Jersey transit, Shopify, Dropbox, Coinbase, and Moody’s credit rating.
• Resolution: Services are restored; no long-term harm reported.

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6. 'Parasocial' Named Cambridge Dictionary's Word of the Year

Timestamps: 03:50 – 04:23

• Cultural Spotlight: Inspired by Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s public relationship, the Word of the Year spotlights the concept of "parasocial" connections — imagined bonds between fans and celebrities.
• Background:
  • The term, once academic, now mainstream.
  • Announcement links popularity surge to Swift’s lyrics and engagement news from August.

"Celebrity couple Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's love story is now shaping the Dictionary ... The word once reserved for academic psychology, now describes a mainstream phenomenon."
— Cambridge Dictionary Representative [03:50]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump on Saudi alliance:
  "And we all should share in peace. And we've never had and been so close to truly everlasting peace in the Middle East." [00:18]

• President Trump on Epstein records legislation:
  "Let the truth come out, let transparency reign." [01:23]

• Jonathan Savage, quoting Netanyahu:
  "He and the state of Israel applaud President Donald Trump and his tireless and devoted team." [02:51]

• Cambridge Dictionary on 'parasocial':
  "The word once reserved for academic psychology, now describes a mainstream phenomenon, a connection that someone feels between themselves and a famous person." [03:50]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Saudi Arabia major non-NATO ally announcement: 00:02 – 00:32
• Epstein files legislation: 01:11 – 01:40
• Japan wildfire, Nigeria abduction updates: 01:40 – 02:00, 02:31
• UN Gaza peace plan endorsement: 02:51 – 03:31
• Cloudflare outage: 03:31 – 03:50
• Cambridge Dictionary Word of the Year: 03:50 – 04:23

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Overall Tone:
News-centric, urgent, and factual, with concise reporting and notable soundbites from high-profile political and global figures.

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End of Summary

Transcript

[Lisa Licera]

A special designation for Saudi Arabia. I'm Lisa Licera of Fox News. President Trump announcing Saudi Arabia is being designated a major non NATO ally, making the announcement at a dinner with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the White House East Room.

[President Donald Trump]

A stronger and more capable alliance will advance the interests of both countries and it will serve the highest interest of peace. And we all should share in peace. And we've never had and been so close to truly everlasting peace in the Middle East.

[Lisa Licera]

It's coming after a full day of meetings where the US Agreed to sell fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. The designation is largely symbolic but provides certain benefits in the areas of trade and security cooperation. Argentina, Australia and New Zealand are among the countries with that designation. Earlier, the crown prince was asked by reporters about U.S. intelligence linking him to the killing of Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi. The Saudi government denies the allegation and President Trump said bin Salman knew nothing about it. Congress overwhelmingly approves legislation compelling the Justice Department to release all its records about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

[Chuck Schumer]

Legislation requiring release of the Justice Department's files on Jeffrey Epstein is now heading to the president's desk. The Senate adopting the measure by unanimous consent hours after a nearly unanimous House vote.

[President Donald Trump]

Let the truth come out, let transparency reign.

[Chuck Schumer]

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer says the bill is not about one party or the other. But President Trump, who initially opposed the legislation, is accusing Democrats of using the Epstein case to distract from his administration's successes.

[Lisa Licera]

Fox is Jared Halpern at the White House. Firefighters are battling an out of control fire that's burned through a neighborhood in southwestern Japan and forced more than 170 people to leave their homes. The fire started during strong winds near a port and it spread to a forest. America's listening to Fox News.

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[Lisa Licera]

One of the 25 schoolgirls abducted from a dormitory in northwestern Nigeria yesterday has escaped in its home. The school's principal says another student was able to escape shortly after the gunman raided the school and was not kidnapped. Israel's prime minister praises President Trump as the UN Endorses the Gaza peace plan.

[Jonathan Savage]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has posted on X to say he and the state of Israel applaud President Donald Trump and his tireless and devoted team. This after the United Nations Security Council gave its mandate for an international stabilization force for Gaza, passing a resolution endorsing President Trump's peace plan. The vote has been condemned by Hamas, however, which says the stabilization force will not be neutral. The UN Resolution also envisions a possible future path to an independent Palestine. Some Israelis, including the prime minister, strongly oppose that idea. Jonathan Savage, Fox News Cloudflare says it's.

[Lisa Licera]

Resolved an issue that led to outages impacting users of everything from ChatGPT and the online game League of Legends to the New Jersey transit system. Other platforms impacted included Shopify, Dropbox, Coinbase and the Moody's credit rating system. Cambridge Dictionary announces its Word of the Year and it's inspired by a certain.

[Cambridge Dictionary Representative]

Celebrity couple Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's love story is now shaping the Dictionary. Cambridge Dictionary has announced its 2025 Word of the Year parasocial and says the choice was partly inspired by Swift's lyrics and her high profile engagement to Kelsey back in August. According to Cambridge University Press, the word once reserved for academic psychology, now describes a mainstream phenomenon, a connection that someone feels between themselves and a famous person.

[Lisa Licera]

Fox is Michelle Palino. I'm Lisa Lucera. This is Fox.

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