U.S. Army secretary arrives in Kyiv for high-level discussions aimed at restarting peace talks. - Fox News Hourly Update

Summary4 min read

Fox News Hourly Update – November 19, 2025

Main Theme:
A rapid briefing of major breaking news stories, including the U.S. Army Secretary’s visit to Kyiv for peace talks, ongoing Russian attacks in Ukraine, a major U.S.-Saudi arms deal, action on the Jeffrey Epstein files, courtroom battles over Texas' redistricting and school Ten Commandments laws, a potentially criminal cruise ship death, and Wall Street’s latest movements.

U.S. Army Secretary in Kyiv & Russian Attacks on Ukraine

[00:03] Dave Anthony: Reports that Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has arrived in Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian leaders, focusing on sharing military technology and discussing efforts to restart peace talks amidst ongoing Russian aggression.
- Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is simultaneously visiting Turkey pressing for more international support to stop Russia after a fresh wave of deadly attacks.
[00:22] Volodymyr Zelenskyy: “President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it a brazen attack. In Ternopil in western Ukraine, nine-story apartment blocks were hit. People could still be trapped in the rubble... Russia fired more than 470 drones and 47 missiles overnight.”
- Key facts: At least 20 killed, 66 injured; attacks in Ternopil and Kharkiv (second-largest city), indicating intensifying assaults and mounting civilian toll.

U.S.-Saudi Relations: Arms Deal & Investment

[00:44] Dave Anthony: Shifts focus to President Trump’s approval of major U.S. fighter jet sales to Saudi Arabia, designating them a major non-NATO ally.
[00:49] Jonathan Savage: “Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally.”
[00:53] Unidentified Fox News Correspondent: Details Trump’s black-tie dinner with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
- “...the president rolled out the red carpet for the Saudi crown prince. And in return, MBS brought President Trump a big check.”
[01:06] Jonathan Savage: “Today and tomorrow we're going to announce that we are going to increase that $600 billion to almost $1 trillion of investment—real investment and real opportunity by details in many areas.”
- [01:15] Unidentified Fox News Correspondent: Business summit at the Kennedy Center with major U.S. corporate leaders alongside the Saudi leadership—Chevron, Qualcomm, Cisco, General Dynamics, and Pfizer.

Jeffrey Epstein Files: Congressional Push for Release

[01:25] Dave Anthony: Notes bipartisan momentum for disclosure of Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking files.
- President Trump calls the campaign for full release a “hoax” but says he’ll sign on, stating, “nothing to hide.”
- Both chambers of Congress unanimously approve compelling the Justice Department to release the files.
[01:42] Annie Farmer (Epstein victim): “This is not an issue of a few corrupt Democrats or a few corrupt Republicans. This is a case of institutional betrayal because these crimes were not properly investigated, so many more girls and women were harmed.”

Texas Redistricting and Legal Battles

[02:16] Dave Anthony: California Governor Gavin Newsom on X: “President Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott played with fire and got burned.”
- After federal judges block a Texas redistricting law aimed at boosting Republican House seats, Abbott pledges a Supreme Court appeal, denouncing claims of illegal racial bias as “absurd.”
- California, in response, pursues its own redistricting plan to favor Democrats.

Texas School Ten Commandments Law Blocked

[02:47] Tonya J. Powers: U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia orders 14 Texas school districts to remove Ten Commandments displays by December 1.
- A preliminary injunction also bars introduction of new displays.
- Law signed by Governor Abbott required all public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments.
- Families sued on grounds of religious freedom and church-state separation.
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton counter-suing school districts refusing to comply.

Carnival Cruise Death Mystery

[03:28] Dave Anthony: A mystery at sea may turn into a murder case in Florida.
[03:31] Amanda Ruiz: Details new court filings suggesting a possible upcoming criminal case regarding the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner on a Carnival cruise ship.
- FBI investigation ongoing, with suspicion that a minor who was traveling with Kepner, her stepmother, and her stepmother’s child, could be implicated.
- Stepmother’s attorney seeks to avoid a hearing, citing self-incrimination risks due to the ongoing criminal investigation.

Wall Street Check-In

[04:03] Dave Anthony: Reports minor uptick in stock futures after two days of heavy sell-offs causing the Dow to drop over 1,000 points.

Notable Quotes & Moments

Zelenskyy’s condemnation of Russian attacks (00:22):
“A brazen attack. In Ternopil in western Ukraine, nine story apartment blocks were hit. People could still be trapped…”
Annie Farmer on the Epstein scandal (01:42):
“This is a case of institutional betrayal because these crimes were not properly investigated, so many more girls and women were harmed.”
Jonathan Savage on U.S.-Saudi investment (01:06):
“We are going to increase that $600 billion to almost $1 trillion of investment—real investment and real opportunity…”
Governor Gavin Newsom’s reaction to Texas redistricting ruling (02:16):
“President Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott played with fire and got burned.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:03 – U.S. Army Secretary in Kyiv and Russian attacks
00:44 – U.S.-Saudi arms deal and investment summit
01:25 – Jeffrey Epstein files congressional action & Annie Farmer’s remarks
02:16 – Texas and California redistricting battle
02:47 – Ten Commandments displays in Texas schools halted
03:31 – Carnival cruise death investigation developments
04:03 – Wall Street and stock market update

This FOX News Hourly Update covers multiple breaking and developing stories with on-the-ground reports, government statements, and reactions from policymakers and affected individuals, maintaining the direct, urgent style typical of fast-paced radio news.

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Transcript17 lines

[00:03]
Dave Anthony
Trying to find a way to end a war that keeps killing civilians. I'm Dave Anthony, FOX News. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is in Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian leaders and share military technology as that country's president visits Turkey looking for more support trying to stop Russia, which launched another deadly attack, killing at least 20 people, injuring 66.
[00:22]
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it a brazen attack. In Ternopil in western Ukraine, nine story apartment blocks were hit. People could still be trapped in the rubble. Three districts of the country's second largest city, Kharkiv, were also struck by a massive drone attack. In total, Russia fired more than 470 drones and 47 missiles overnight.
[00:44]
Dave Anthony
Fox's Jonathan Savage President Trump's approved a Saudi purchase of American fighter jets, designating.
[00:50]
Jonathan Savage
Saudi Arabia as a major non NATO ally.
[00:54]
Dave Anthony
He said that while hosting Saudi leader Mohammed bin Salman at a black tie.
[00:57]
Unidentified Fox News Correspondent
Dinner, the president rolled out the red carpet for the Saudi crown prince. And in return, MBS brought President Trump a big check.
[01:06]
Jonathan Savage
Today and tomorrow we're going to announce that we are going to increase that 600 billion to almost $1 trillion of investment, real investment and real opportunity by details in many areas.
[01:16]
Unidentified Fox News Correspondent
Later on today during a business summit at the Kennedy center. The leaders will be joined by the heads of Chevron, Qualcomm, Cisco, General Dynamics and Pfizer, among others.
[01:26]
Dave Anthony
Fox's Peter Doocy @ the White House or the president again called the push for the release of all the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking files a hoax, but added he'll sign it with nothing to hide. The Senate unanimously approved the resolution convict compelling the Justice Department to hand over the files after the House also passed it with just one no vote. Annie Farmer is an Epstein victim.
[01:43]
Annie Farmer
This is not an issue of a few corrupt Democrats or a few corrupt Republicans. This is a case of institutional betrayal because these crimes were not properly investigated, so many more girls and women were harmed.
[01:57]
Dave Anthony
America's listening to FOX News.
[01:59]
Will Kane
It's Will Kane country. Watch it live at noon Eastern Monday through Thursday at fox news.com or on the Fox News YouTube channel. And don't miss the show. Follow the podcast five days a week at foxnewspodcasts.com or wherever you download your favorite podcasts.
[02:17]
Dave Anthony
President Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott played with fire and got burned. That's what California's Democratic governor Gavin Newsom posted on X after federal judges blocked a Texas law that caused controversy redrawing congressional districts for next year's elections, aiming to give Republicans five more House seats Governor Abbott vows to appeal to the Supreme Court, calling allegations it's illegally based on race absurd. Now California's counter redistricting plan could give Democrats five more House seats. There was also another ruling blocking another controversial law in Texas.
[02:48]
Tonya J. Powers
U.S. district Judge Orlando Garcia has given 14 school districts in Texas until Dec. 1 to remove Ten Commandments displays, and the preliminary injunction says they would be barred from posting new displays. The law, which requires Texas public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, was signed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott in. A group of families from different religious backgrounds sued in September, saying the law violates their religious freedom and the separation of church and state. Similar suits have challenged nearly identical laws in other states. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says he is suing two of the school districts for refusing to comply with the law. Tonya J. Powers, FOX NEWS A mystery at sea.
[03:29]
Dave Anthony
May turn into a murder case in Gordon, Florida.
[03:31]
Amanda Ruiz
It's been almost two weeks since 18 year old Anna Kepner died on a Carnival cruise ship. New court documents state the FBI's investigation could become criminal. A criminal case may be initiated against one of the minor children. This comes from a motion filed by the attorney representing Kepner's stepmother, Chantel Hudson, in an unrelated civil divorce case. In it, the attorney states Hudson should not have to testify for an upcoming hearing because her testimony could be self incriminating. The document states Kepner was on a Carnival cruise ship with her stepmother and her stepmother's child.
[04:03]
Dave Anthony
Amanda Ruiz with Fox 35 TV in Orlando. On Wall street, stock futures are rising, but not by much. But after two huge sell offs that have dragged the Dow down more than 1,000 points, I'm Dave Anthony, FOX News.