11AM ET 12/09/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update — 11AM ET, December 9, 2025

Overview

This fast-paced Fox News Radio newscast covers emerging stories from congressional legal decisions related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, updates on Ukraine peace efforts, U.S. economic and job market developments, significant Australian tech regulation, a tragic fire in Jakarta, and live testimony from Gene Simmons before the U.S. Senate. The reporting is crisp, moving swiftly between national and international headlines.

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Key Stories and Discussion Points

1. The Epstein Files: Congressional Transparency and Legal Developments

(00:02–00:57)

• Congress Pushes for Transparency:
  Congress recently passed a law instructing the Justice Department to release all unclassified Jeffrey Epstein-related documents.

  • “Congress passed a law last month ordering the Justice Department to release all unclassified records related to the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.” — Chris Foster [00:02]
  • Last week, a Florida judge allowed the release of abandoned 2000s grand jury transcripts.

• Ghislaine Maxwell Case:
  A federal judge now permits the release of investigative materials concerning Epstein’s convicted accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.

  • “A federal judge giving the go ahead for the Justice Department to publicly release investigative materials from a sex trafficking case against longtime Jeffrey Epstein confidant Ghislaine Maxwell, who's in prison for sex trafficking.” — Lillian Wu [00:23]
  • Maxwell intends to contest her continued detention, and her lawyers argue that unsealing materials could prejudice her pending appeal.
  • The records may become public within 10 days, under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

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2. Ukraine Peace Efforts and U.S. Political Response

(00:57–01:23)

• Ukraine’s Peace Plans:
  Ukrainian President Zelensky, alongside European leaders, prepares a peace proposal with Russia that counters territory terms floated by former President Trump.

  • “Ukraine's President Zelensky says he and European leaders are going to present their own plan for peace with Russia that does not include the territory included in the plan proposed by President Trump.” — Chris Foster [00:57]

• Donald Trump Comments:
  In an interview with Politico, Trump claims that the war would not have happened under his administration.

  • “Well, there can be no question about it. It's Russia. It's a much bigger country. It's a war that should have never happened. Frankly, it wouldn't have happened if I were president. And it didn't happen for four years.” — Donald Trump [01:09]

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3. President’s Economic Messaging and Job Numbers

(01:23–02:00)

• White House Economic Outreach:
  The White House plans to connect with voters about the “price of everything.” The president is on a tour to discuss energy policy and combatting inflation, starting in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania.

  • “The White House trying to figure out a way how to connect with those voters about the price of everything.” — Edward Lawrence [01:23]
  • The president intends to highlight energy initiatives as a method to alleviate inflation.

• Job Market Update:
  The Labor Department reports job openings remained steady at 7.7 million in October, with data delayed by a government shutdown.

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4. Global Developments

• Australia’s Social Media Ban for Minors
  (02:31–03:03)

  • Australia enacts its first complete ban on social media for children under 16.
    • “It's up to tech companies to figure out which accounts belong to teens. The companies are using different strategies, like self reported age targeting… Fines reach up to $33 million.” — Ainsley Earhart [02:35]
  • Meta voices concerns about the approach, and commentators note that blanket bans may not be the solution.

• Jakarta Office Building Fire
  (03:03–03:45)

  • At least 22 dead after a fire in a drone company’s sales/storage building.
    • “The fire tore through a 7 building in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta... More than a dozen trapped staff were evacuated from the sixth floor and using an emergency ladder, a pregnant woman is among the dead.” — Jonathan Savage [03:09]
  • Suspected cause: battery short circuit or thermal failure.

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5. U.S. Legislation & the Music Industry

• Gene Simmons Testifies Before Senate
  (03:45–04:27)
  • Gene Simmons, Kiss co-founder and recent Kennedy Center Honoree, appears before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee to support requiring radio stations to pay performers when music airs.
    • “...the coalition created to ensure music creators get fair pay for their work on all platforms, said the hearing marks the first time since 2009 that the Senate has examined legislation aimed at closing what supporters call the radio loophole…” — Michelle Paulino (as narrated by Chris Foster) [03:49]
  • The legislative effort seeks to ensure fair compensation for artists on terrestrial radio.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Congress passed a law last month ordering the Justice Department to release all unclassified records related to the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.” — Chris Foster [00:02]
• “A federal judge giving the go ahead for the Justice Department to publicly release investigative materials from a sex trafficking case against longtime Jeffrey Epstein confidant Ghislaine Maxwell...” — Lillian Wu [00:23]
• “Frankly, it wouldn't have happened if I were president. And it didn't happen for four years.” — Donald Trump [01:09]
• “It's up to tech companies to figure out which accounts belong to teens. ... Fines reach up to $33 million.” — Ainsley Earhart [02:35]
• “More than a dozen trapped staff were evacuated from the sixth floor... a pregnant woman is among the dead.” — Jonathan Savage [03:09]
• “...the hearing marks the first time since 2009 that the Senate has examined legislation aimed at closing what supporters call the radio loophole and requiring radio companies to properly compensate artists...” — Michelle Paulino [03:49]

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Timestamps by Topic

• Epstein Files & Ghislaine Maxwell: 00:02–00:57
• Ukraine/Russia Peace Proposal & Trump: 00:57–01:23
• Biden Economic Messaging & Jobs: 01:23–02:00
• Australia’s Social Media Ban: 02:31–03:03
• Jakarta Fire: 03:03–03:45
• Gene Simmons & Radio Pay Legislation: 03:45–04:27

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Summary

This hour delivers a rapid sweep of prominent legal proceedings tied to Epstein and Maxwell, geopolitical maneuvering over peace in Ukraine, ongoing economic policy outreach by the White House, a strict Australian tech law for youth, an international tragedy, and a push for reform in the music business—anchored by expert reporting and direct soundbites from those in the headlines.

Transcript

[Chris Foster]

The Epstein files. I'm Chris Foster, Fox News. Congress passed a law last month ordering the Justice Department to release all unclassified records related to the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. And last week, a judge in Florida granted the department's request to release transcripts from an abandoned federal grand jury investigation in the 2000s. Today, another judge says okay to releasing files on Epstein's convicted accomplice.

[Lillian Wu]

A federal judge giving the go ahead for the Justice Department to publicly release investigative materials from a sex trafficking case against longtime Jeffrey Epstein confidant Ghislaine Maxwell, who's in prison for sex trafficking. The U.S. district Court, Southern District of New York, citing the passage last month of the Epstein Files Transparency act, meaning the records could be made public within 10 days. Maxwell has indicated she intends to file a petition challenging her detention. And unsealing the grand jury materials could prejudice that. Lillian Wu, FOX News.

[Chris Foster]

Ukraine's President Zelensky says he and European leaders are going to present their own plan for peace with Russia that does not include the territory included in the plan proposed by President Trump. He says Russia is in a much better negotiating position.

[Donald Trump]

Well, there can be no question about it. It's Russia. It's a much bigger country. It's a war that should have never happened. Frankly, it wouldn't have happened if I were president. And it didn't happen for four years.

[Chris Foster]

The president there in an interview with Politico, he gives a speech about the economy today in Pennsylvania.

[Edward Lawrence]

The White House trying to figure out a way how to connect with those voters about the price of everything. The president's going to be taking one or the first of many trips that I am told where he's going to talk about energy and his vision for the future. With now the stop today, Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, where the president plans to talk about reducing pressure on inflation through his energy policy. Using Pennsylvania as an example, Fox Business.

[Chris Foster]

White House correspondent Edward Lawrence there, the Labor Department is reporting monthly jobs openings basically flat at 7.7 million in October, a report delayed by the government shutdown. America's listening to FOX News.

Marshalls.

[Marshall's Advertiser]

Buyers are hustling hard to get amazing new gifts into stores right up to the last minute. Like a designer perfume for who never RSVP'd wishlist topping toys for her kids who came too.

[Edward Lawrence]

Mm.

[Marshall's Advertiser]

Belgian chocolates for the neighbor, a cozy scarf for your boss and a wool jacket for your husband that you definitely did not. Almost forget. Marshalls. We get the deals. You give the good stuff even at the last minute.

[Jonathan Savage]

Phew.

[Marshall's Advertiser]

Find a Marshall's near you.

[Chris Foster]

Will's first ever social media ban for kids under 16 has taken effect in Australia.

[Ainsley Earhart]

It's up to tech companies to figure out which accounts belong to teens. The companies are using different strategies, like self reported age targeting, accounts that interact with other underage accounts and activity patterns that align with school hour. Fines reach up to $33 million. Mehta writes. While we're committed to meeting our legal obligations, we've consistently raised concerns about this law. Experts, youth groups and many parents agree that blanket bans are not the solution.

[Chris Foster]

Fox Business correspondent Madison ALLWORTH at least 22 people are reported killed in an office building fire in Indonesia.

[Jonathan Savage]

The fire tore through a 7 building in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta. Thick black smoke rising into the sky spread panic among residents and workers in the central city neighborhood. The building was used for sales and storage by a drone company. A local police chief saying the fire began when a battery started to spark in a testing area, a suspected short circuit or thermal failure. Intense scenes shown on tv. More than a dozen trapped staff were evacuated from the sixth floor and using an emergency ladder, a pregnant woman is among the dead. Jonathan Savage, FOX News.

[Chris Foster]

Some senators this afternoon hear testimony from Rock and Roll hall of Famer Gene Simmons.

[Gene Simmons]

The Kiss co founder who just received Kennedy center honors alongside his band over the weekend, will testify before the US Senate Judiciary Committee's intellectual property subcommittee in support of legislation that will require radio stations to pay performers when their music airs. Music first, the coalition created to ensure music creators get fair pay for their work on all platforms, said the hearing marks the first time since 2009 that the Senate has examined legislation aimed at closing what supporters call the radio loophole and requiring radio companies to properly compensate artists for playing the recording.

[Chris Foster]

That's Michelle Paulino. I'm Chris.

[Ainsley Earhart]

This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of.

[Chris Foster]

Jesus, a listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.