Government Shutdown Has Begun

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: Government Shutdown Has Begun

Date: October 1, 2025
Host: Chris DiMaio
Podcast: FOX News Hourly Update

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Episode Overview

This episode provides a breaking update on the unfolding partial government shutdown after Senate Democrats voted down a House bill. The discussion highlights the political deadlock in Washington, the finger-pointing between parties, and the immediate political and economic consequences. The episode also touches on President Trump’s recent announcement about lower prescription drug costs and updates on self-driving cars in D.C. and a recent NTSB safety report.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Government Shutdown Triggered

[00:02–01:11]

• Senate Democrats Block House Bill: Senate Democrats voted against a House spending bill, triggering a partial government shutdown.

  • Quote [00:08]:

    "They've got to sit down and negotiate with Democrats to come to a bill that both parties can support. They didn't do that in the past. Their bill, they call it clean. We call it totally partisan."
    — Democratic Senator

• Stalemate Over Health Care: Democrats seek health care provisions in funding bills, while Republicans call the shutdown unnecessary.

  • Quote [00:30]:

    "This is unnecessary, avoidable and just so uncalled for."
    — Republican Senator

• Heated Rhetoric and Accusations:

  • Both parties accuse each other of bad faith and lying over health care and immigration funding.
  • Quote [00:46]:

    "They say, oh, the Democrats want undocumented immigrants to get health care, to get the federal dollars of health care."
    — Democratic Senator

• Potential Consequences:

  • Republicans warn President Trump could fire thousands of federal employees during the shutdown.

  • Quote [00:54]:

    "If there's a shutdown, President Trump could fire thousands of federal employees. The president is threatening to eliminate jobs and programs with which are important to Democrats."
    — Republican Senator

  • Some argue the shutdown could allow Trump to enact "irreversible" changes.

  • Quote [01:04]:

    "We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible, that are bad for them and irreversible by them."
    — Dr. Mehmet Oz

• GOP Calculation:

  • Republicans believe Democrats' strategy will backfire, giving President Trump more authority.
  • Quote [01:11]:

    "Republicans are convinced that the Democrats' strategy will backfire. They believe that a shutdown gives President Trump the very authority that Democrats argue against."
    — Republican Senator

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2. Prescription Drug Costs and Trump Administration Announcement

[01:21–01:39]

• Pfizer Medicaid Pricing:
  • President Trump announced that Pfizer will offer prescription drugs to Medicaid at the lowest, "most favored nation" prices.
  • Quote [01:30]:

    "The goal for us is to allow the American people to get access to medications at a price that again is equal or better than their European counterparts."
    — Dr. Mehmet Oz

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3. Market Update

[01:39–01:59]

• Positive Markets Despite Shutdown:
  • The Dow finished up 81 points; the NASDAQ was up 68 points.

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4. Midterm Election Focus

[02:32–02:51]

• 2026 Midterms and GOP Strategy:
  • Speaker Mike Johnson expresses optimism about GOP prospects.
  • Quote [02:43]:

    "We're going to win in the midterms. Absolutely. We're going to have a big victory and I think we can expand that majority so we can keep going. We have to give President Trump four years and not two."
    — Speaker Mike Johnson

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5. Technology: Self-Driving Cars in D.C.

[02:58–03:42]

• Zoox Autonomous Taxis:
  • Amazon-owned Zoox expands testing to Washington, D.C. after San Francisco.
  • Their vehicles have no driver tools and feature open seating with comfort settings.
  • The D.C. environment offers unique testing challenges such as winter conditions.
  • Reporting [02:58]:

    "Zoox Test cars are SUVs outfitted with their autonomous tech, but their actual vehicles resemble streetcars with no driver tools and an open seating cab with personal comfort settings."
    — Eben Brown, FOX News

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6. Aviation Safety: Near Miss in San Diego

[03:42–04:24]

• NTSB Findings:
  • A private jet nearly collided with a Southwest plane due to distracted air traffic controllers (one on the phone, another troubleshooting a printer).
  • The airport's automated system prevented disaster.
  • Quote [03:45]:

    "A private jet came within 100ft of hitting a Southwest Airlines plane because the air traffic controllers were distracted..."
    — Lisa Lucera, Fox News

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Finger Pointing Over Shutdown:

  • "There are no talks. The House is not even meeting."
    — Republican Senator [00:37]

• Shutdown as a Tool:

  • "We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible, that are bad for them and irreversible by them."
    — Dr. Mehmet Oz [01:04]

• GOP Confidence:

  • "We're going to have a big victory and I think we can expand that majority so we can keep going."
    — Speaker Mike Johnson [02:43]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------|------------| | Government Shutdown Announcement | 00:02–01:11| | Prescription Drug Price Announcement | 01:21–01:39| | Stock Market Update | 01:39–01:59| | 2026 Midterm GOP Optimism | 02:32–02:51| | Zoox Self-Driving Cars in D.C. | 02:58–03:42| | NTSB Report: San Diego Near Miss | 03:42–04:24|

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Summary prepared for listeners who seek a concise yet comprehensive update on the U.S. government shutdown and other high-impact national stories as reported in this FOX News Hourly Update.

Transcript

[Chris DiMaio]

This is a FOX News alert. I'm Chris DiMaio. Senate Democrats voting down a House bill triggering a partial government shutdown.

[Democratic Senator]

They've got to sit down and negotiate with Democrats to come to a bill that both parties can support. They didn't do that in the past. Their bill, they call it clean. We call it totally partisan.

[Chris DiMaio]

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats demanding any bill to keep Washington fully funded also include their demands on health care. Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune.

[Republican Senator]

This is unnecessary, avoidable and just so uncalled for.

[Chris DiMaio]

Both sides are finger pointing.

[Republican Senator]

There are no talks. The House is not even meeting. Democrats accused the GOP of lying when it comes to their demands for health care money.

[Democratic Senator]

They say, oh, the Democrats want undocumented immigrants to get health care, to get the federal dollars of health care.

[Republican Senator]

If there's a shutdown, President Trump could fire thousands of federal employees. The president is threatening to eliminate jobs and programs with which are important to Democrats.

[Dr. Mehmet Oz]

We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible, that are bad for them and irreversible by them.

[Republican Senator]

Republicans are convinced that the Democrats strategy will backfire. They believe that a shutdown gives President Trump the very authority that Democrats argue against.

[Chris DiMaio]

Fox's CHAD program on Capitol Hill. President Trump announcing Tuesday that Pfizer will now be offering prescription drugs to Medicaid at the lowest most favored nation prices.

[Dr. Mehmet Oz]

The goal for us is to allow the American people to get access to medications at a price that again is equal or better than their European counterparts.

[Chris DiMaio]

Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz on Fox's the Ingram Angle. Stocks finishing Tuesday in positive territory. The dow finishing up 81 points. The NASDAQ ending up 68 points. America's listening to Fox News.

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[Chris DiMaio]

Hey, it's not too early to start thinking about the 2026 midterms. Republicans and Democr on how they can get control of the House and Senate Speaker Mike Johnson feels good about the GOP chances.

[Speaker Mike Johnson]

We're going to win in the midterms. Absolutely. We're going to have a big victory and I think we can expand that majority so we can keep going. We have to give President Trump four years and not two.

[Chris DiMaio]

Johnson on Fox's the Ingraham Angle Washington, D.C. may now be ready for self driving cars.

[Eben Brown]

Amazon owned autonomous taxi company Zoox is expanding to the east coast and is picking the nation's capital to next deploy test fleets. The company has already been testing their driverless cars in places like San Francisco. Zoox Test cars are SUVs outfitted with their autonomous tech, but their actual vehicles resemble streetcars with no driver tools and an open seating cab with personal comfort settings. Testing in D.C. gives Zoox the chance to try their tech in a city with a particular style and pattern of roadways, along with functioning in mid Atlantic weather, which especially in winter, could bring challenges like ice and snow. Eben Brown, FOX News Federal investigators release.

[Chris DiMaio]

Findings after a near miss on a San Diego Runway two years ago.

[Lisa Lucera]

The National Transportation Safety Board says a private jet came within 100ft of hitting a Southwest Airlines plane because the air traffic controllers were distracted finding the controller that was overseeing landings was on the phone with the regional FAA radar facility about correcting the altitude of an unrelated plane as the private jet was approaching. And the supervisor was also distracted troubleshooting a problem with a printer instead of just switching over to a backup printer. The private jet was able to pull up because the airport's automated system for tracking planes and vehicles on the ground alerted the controller to the situation. Lisa Lucera, Fox News I'm Chris DiMeo.

[Chris DiMaio]

This is Fox News.

[Will Kane]

It's Will Kane. COUNTRY Watch it live at noon Eastern Monday through [e-mail] or on the Fox News YouTube channel. And don't miss the show. Listen and follow the podcast five days a week at FOX News Podcast or wherever you download your favorite podcasts.