The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point.

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – September 17, 2025

Main Theme:
This episode focuses on breaking news including the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut its key interest rate, Congressional battles over government funding, major developments in law enforcement investigations, and a security incident involving Air Force One. The episode delivers a fast-paced overview of current national events and their political ramifications.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. FBI Director Vows to Investigate Political Violence Groups

• [00:02] Lisa Brady: Reports on the FBI Director’s pledge to investigate all organizations accused of promoting political violence, regardless of ideology or background.
• [00:11] Jimmy Phela (quoting the FBI Director):

  “Investigatively speaking, we are doing the following. We are following the money. We are following the money in every organization and every person that is violating the federal code. And it doesn't matter what your background or ideology is, we are following the money.”

  • Emphasizes a comprehensive approach to tracking financial activities related to potential federal violations.

2. Federal Probe into Charlie Kirk’s Killing

• [00:24] Lisa Brady: Updates on the ongoing federal probe surrounding Charlie Kirk’s killing, highlighting law enforcement’s focus on suspect Tyler Robinson and his connections via Discord.
• Discord’s Role: The platform is cooperating with authorities, while broader scrutiny falls on online communities for radicalization.
• [00:36] James Comer:
  • Announces the impending congressional hearing (October 8) with tech CEOs (Discord, Steam, Twitch, Reddit) to address radicalization via online forums.

  • “Some tech experts say social media platforms like Discord need to be doing more to monitor the type of content being posted.”

3. CDC Controversy and Senate Testimony

• [00:57] Lisa Brady: Recaps contentious testimony by former CDC Director Susan Menarez, who accuses Secretary Kennedy of pressuring her to fire officials and approve policies that might limit vaccine access.
• Menarez’s Statement:

  “My worst fear was that I would then be in a position of approving something that would reduce access of life saving vaccines to children and others who need them.” (Susan Menarez, 01:19)

• HHS Reply: A spokesperson alleges Menarez acted "maliciously" to oppose the president’s agenda and refused to aid in restoring the CDC’s mission.

4. Federal Reserve Cuts Key Interest Rate

• [01:31] Lisa Brady: A “Fox News alert” on the Federal Reserve’s first interest rate cut since December—quarter-point, as anticipated due to cooling labor market data.
• President Trump’s Critique: He has criticized the move as overdue and insufficient, wanting the Fed to have acted sooner.
• [04:01] Lisa Brady:

  • Adds context: The rate cut follows a months-long “wait and see” approach under Trump-era policies.

  • Highlights the dissent of new Fed Board member Stephen Myron, who voted for a larger, half-point cut.

    “Stephen Myron...dissented on the quarter point cut, wanting a bigger half point rate reduction.” (Lisa Brady, 04:11)

5. Congress Deadlocked on Government Funding

• [02:31] Lisa Brady & [02:36] Jimmy Phela:

  • Congress faces a funding deadline in under two weeks.

  • Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticizes the GOP proposal as partisan, lacking Democratic input.

  • The GOP plan would extend funding through November, provide security for Trump administration officials, but lacks health care provisions valued by Democrats.

    “It's a partisan bill. It's had no input from Democrats.” (Chuck Schumer via Jimmy Phela, 02:43)

6. Airspace Incident Involving Air Force One

• [03:08] Lisa Brady & [03:19] Therese Crowley:

  • A Spirit Airlines flight came close to Air Force One over Long Island.

  • Audio from air traffic control highlighted repeated attempts to redirect the Spirit flight for safety.

    “Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right now.” (ATC via Jimmy Phela, 03:26)

    “Warning traffic off your left wing. 8 miles, 7:47 and get off the iPad... He's white and blue. Air Force One flying President Trump.” (ATC via Therese Crowley, 03:35)

  • FAA's preliminary findings indicate no breach of required separation, but the incident is part of a pattern of airspace violations near Trump’s properties.

---

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• FBI on Political Violence:

  “We are following the money... And it doesn't matter what your background or ideology is, we are following the money.”
  (FBI Director via Jimmy Phela, 00:11)

• CDC Testimony:

  “My worst fear was that I would then be in a position of approving something that would reduce access of life saving vaccines to children and others who need them.”
  (Susan Menarez, 01:19)

• Fed Board Dissent:

  “Stephen Myron...dissented on the quarter point cut, wanting a bigger half point rate reduction.”
  (Lisa Brady, 04:11)

• ATC to Spirit 1300:

  “Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right now.”
  (ATC via Jimmy Phela, 03:26)

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:02] – FBI aims to root out funding of groups inciting violence
• [00:24] – Details on Discord’s involvement in Kirk case
• [00:36] – Upcoming tech CEOs hearing on online radicalization
• [00:57] – Ex-CDC Director’s heated Senate testimony
• [01:31] – Breaking: Federal Reserve rate cut
• [02:31] – Congressional budget standoff explained
• [03:08] – Air traffic incident near Air Force One
• [04:01] – More detail on Fed rate cut; new member dissent

---

Tone & Style

The episode maintains a brisk, factual tone characteristic of Fox News hourly briefs, balancing rapid news updates with pointed political analysis and the occasional soundbite from key figures.

---

Conclusion:
This update provides a dense overview of America’s political and economic currents, focusing on the Fed’s rate cut, congressional wrangling on the budget, and the intersection of technology, law enforcement, and public safety. It captures key political tensions of the moment with memorable firsthand statements from Washington insiders and officials.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

Follow the money Lisa Brady, Fox News that from the FBI director pledging to investigate any groups accused of promoting political violence.

[Jimmy Phela]

Investigatively speaking, we are doing the following. We are following the money. We are following the money in every organization and every person that is violating the federal code. And it doesn't matter what your background or ideology is, we are following the money.

[Lisa Brady]

This as the federal probe of Charlie Kirk's killing continues, including people who are in a group chat with suspect Tyler Robinson on the gaming chat platform Discord, which says it's fully cooperating with law enforcement.

[James Comer]

And while Discord also has steps where users can report inappropriate behavior, some tech experts say social media platforms like Discord need to be doing more to monitor the type of content being posted. The chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, James Comer, has invited the CEOs of Discord, Steam, Twitch and Reddit to testify at a hearing on October 8 about the radicalization of online forum users.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox BUSINESSES Max Gordon, the FBI chief spending a second day on Capitol Hill while the fired CDC director, Director Susan Menarez, is telling a Senate panel that Health Secretary Kennedy wanted her to fire career officials and rubber stamp vaccine policy. My worst fear was that I would then be in a position of approving something that would reduce access of life saving vaccines to children and others who need them. An HHS spokesperson accuses Manares of acting maliciously to undermine the president's agenda and refusing to help restore the CDC's core mission. A Fox News alert from the Fed, which has just announced a rate cut for the first time since December, a quarter point cut as many economists were expecting after recent signs of a cooling labor market. President Trump has criticized the Fed chief as too late for the central bank not cutting its benchmark rate sooner. America is listening to Fox News.

[New Balance Announcer]

At New Balance. We believe if you run, you're a runner, however you choose to do it. Because when you're not worried about doing things the right way, you're free to discover your way. And that's what running is all about. Run your way. @newbalance.com Running.

[Lisa Brady]

Congress remains at odds over how to fund the government. With a deadline less than two weeks.

[Jimmy Phela]

Away, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says Democrats Democrats will soon release their plan to fund the government and bash the bill Republicans released this week. It's a partisan bill. It's had no input from Democrats. House Republicans plan would extend government funding until the end of November while providing millions in security to the Trump administration, judges and members of Congress. Democrats have issues with the lack of health care provisions in the GOP bill. But Republicans are hoping at least some Democrats will be tempted to vote for it to avoid a shutdown.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Rich Bell's on the Hill. President Trump spending the day with Britain's King Charles ahead of a visit tomorrow with the British prime minister. A passenger jet gets too close to Air Force One.

[Therese Crowley]

Spirit Airlines Flight 1300 from Fort Lauderdale to Boston was flying over Long island when the pilots were ordered repeatedly turn away.

[Jimmy Phela]

Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right now.

[Therese Crowley]

Air Traffic Control via liveatc.net Spirit Wings.

[Jimmy Phela]

1300, turn 20 degrees right immediately.

[Therese Crowley]

Warning traffic off your left wing. 8 miles, 7:47 and get off the iPad, adding I'm sure you can see who it is. He's white and blue. Air Force One flying President Trump and the first lady on his state visit to Britain. The FAA preliminary probe shows the Spirit pilot maintained required separation, but this follows numerous violations of airspace over President Trump's Bedminster, New Jersey Golf club. Therese Crowley, Fox News Recapping the Fed.

[Lisa Brady]

Decision to cut its benchmark interest rate, the first cut in nine months after a wait and see approach to Trump policies and the economy. President Trump's new member of the Federal Reserve Board, Stephen Myron, was part of today's vote after winning Senate confirmation to fill a vacancy this week. He dissented on the quarter point cut, wanting a bigger half point rate reduction. Lisa Brady, this is FOX News.

[Jimmy Phela]

This is Jimmy Phela inviting you to join me for FOX Across America where we'll discuss every single one of the Democrats dumb ideas. Just kidding. It's only a three hour show. Listen live at noon Eastern or get the [e-mail].