11AM ET 12/17/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 11AM ET 12/17/2025 Newscast

Podcast: Fox News Hourly Update
Host: Dave Anthony
Date: December 17, 2025
Length: ~4 minutes

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Episode Overview

This news update delivers the latest political developments, criminal investigations, and national stories. Highlights include former special counsel Jack Smith’s closed-door hearing on Trump indictments, new tension over Obamacare tax credits, a high-profile double murder case, fallout from a campus shooting, President Trump’s looming national address, a dignified transfer for fallen soldiers, and Maryland’s legislative action on reparations.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jack Smith Faces House Judiciary Inquiry

[00:03-00:50]

• Main Point: Jack Smith, the former special counsel who indicted President Trump on two counts, is being questioned by the House Judiciary Committee in a closed session.
• Context: The indictments were dropped after Trump’s re-election.
• Investigative Focus: Allegations that the Biden DOJ weaponized prosecutions for political ends.
• Personal Stakes: Subpoenaing of Republicans’ phone records by the DOJ has made the issue personal for some lawmakers.

Notable Quote:

"Regrets about the way your prosecutions of the president were handled?"
— Bill Malusian [00:14]
(Jack Smith did not respond to questions from the press.)

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2. House Healthcare Showdown Over Obamacare Tax Credits

[00:50-01:19]

• Legislative Dynamics: Four GOP lawmakers cross party lines, joining Democrats in forcing a vote on extending Obamacare tax credits set to expire this year.
• Outcome: The vote to extend tax credits was blocked.
• Controversy: Debate centers on whether the COVID-era tax subsidies increased costs.

Notable Quote:

"Covid era tax subsidies that have done nothing but increase costs not only to the American people but to the health care program that has been failed since they passed it."
— Rep. Lance Gooden [01:10]

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3. High-Profile Double Homicide: Nick Reiner’s Arraignment

[01:19-01:38]

• Crime Story: Nick Reiner faces arraignment for the murders of his parents, Rob and Michelle Reiner, in Los Angeles.
• Prosecution Angle: LA County DA signals the case may qualify for the death penalty.
• Update: The parents were found stabbed in their home.

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4. Brown University Shooting Manhunt

[01:38-02:00]

• Incident: Authorities continue searching for a masked gunman who killed two students and wounded nine at Brown University.
• Investigation: Police hope new surveillance videos will lead to his identification.

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5. President Trump Prepares Primetime Address

[02:16-02:45]

• Upcoming Event: President Trump will address the nation at 9:00 pm ET.
• Speech Preview:
  • Touting achievements: secure border, reduced inflation, lower gas prices.
  • May hint at new policy directions for the coming year.
• Backdrop: Polls reflect high public disapproval on the economy, inflation, and trade.

Notable Quote:

"The president will highlight his accomplishments over the past year, a secure border, lower inflation than its peak under the Biden administration and reduced gas prices."
— Rich Edson [02:24]

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6. Dignified Transfer at Dover Following Deadly Attack in Syria

[02:45-03:23]

• Details: President Trump will attend the dignified transfer of two Iowa National Guard soldiers killed in a terrorist attack in Syria.
• Broader Policy: Syria added to a travel ban list soon after the attack.
• Human Cost: An American interpreter was also killed.
• Ceremony: Honor guards will carry flag-draped transfer cases as the president pays respects.

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7. Maryland Lawmakers Override Governor on Reparations Commission

[03:23-04:06]

• Legislative Action: Maryland’s Democratic-controlled legislature overrides Governor Wes Moore’s veto to create a reparations commission.
• Significance: Moore, Maryland's first Black governor, found the timing unsuitable for another study, but lawmakers insisted it was a priority.
• Additional Vetoes Overridden: Bills to study data center impacts and fund climate change research.

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8. Market Update

[04:06-04:13]

• Snapshot:
  • Dow: Down 90 points
  • Nasdaq: Falls 234 points

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Jack Smith is on a hot seat in the House."
  — Dave Anthony [00:03]

• "Covid era tax subsidies that have done nothing but increase costs..."
  — Rep. Lance Gooden [01:10]

• "The president may also tease some policies coming in the new year."
  — Rich Edson [02:24]

• "[The reparations commission] was a priority for the Legislative Black Caucus and was vetoed by Moore, the state's first black governor, in May. At the time, Moore explained that the decision was difficult for him, but that now is not the time for another study."
  — Tanya J. Powers [03:31]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Jack Smith House Judiciary Hearing: [00:03–00:50]
• Obamacare Tax Credit Debate: [00:50–01:19]
• Nick Reiner Double Murder Arraignment: [01:19–01:38]
• Brown University Shooting Manhunt: [01:38–02:00]
• President Trump's Primetime Address Preview: [02:16–02:45]
• Dover Dignified Transfer for Fallen Soldiers: [02:45–03:23]
• Maryland Reparations Commission Vote: [03:23–04:06]
• Stock Market Update: [04:06–04:13]

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This summary provides an at-a-glance update on the day’s top news and political controversies in the familiar, rapid-fire Fox News style.

Transcript

[Dave Anthony]

Jack Smith is on a hot seat in the House. I'm Dave Anthony, FOX News. The ex special counsel who got two Trump indictments dropped after the president was elected. Again, Mr. Smith, do you have any.

[Bill Malusian]

Regrets about the way your prosecutions of the president were handled?

[Dave Anthony]

But he didn't answer Fox's Bill Malusion on his way into a closed door questioning going on now at the House Judiciary Committee.

[Bill Malusian]

Smith was the special counsel who oversaw two federal criminal cases against President Trump for alleged mishandling of classified documents and alleged attempts to overturn the 20 election.

[Dave Anthony]

And Fox's Bill Malusian also reports the.

[Bill Malusian]

House Judiciary Committee plans to probe Smith about allegations that the Biden Department of Justice was weaponized to pursue his political enemies. And the issue has become personal for some lawmakers after it was revealed the Biden DOJ even subpoenaed some Republicans phone records.

[Dave Anthony]

Also at the House, ahead of a vote on a Republican health care plan to reform Obamacare, four GOP lawmakers join Democrats signing a petition that will also force a House vote on extending Obamacare tax credit set to expire at year's end and drive up the cost of coverage for millions of Americans. We're hearing that vote has been blocked. Republican Congressman Lance Gooden opposes the extension.

[Lance Gooden]

And tells Fox Covid era tax subsidies that have done nothing but increase costs not only to the American people but to the health care program that has been failed since they passed it.

[Dave Anthony]

Nick Reiner may be in court in Los Angeles this hour to be arraigned.

[Jonathan Hunt]

On charges that he murdered both his parents, Rob and Michelle Reiner. He now faces the those two charges of first degree murder. And the LA County DA said yesterday this could be a death penalty case.

[Dave Anthony]

Fox's Jonathan Hunt in la, where the parents of Nick Reiner, Rob and Michelle were found stabbed to death in their home Sunday in the manhunt for Brown University's gunman. Police have released more videos of a man in a mask walking around campus before the Saturday shooting that left two students dead and nine wounded. They hope someone will recognize his mannerisms and identify him. America's listening to FOX News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

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

[Podcast Narrator]

Jesus, a listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow now at foxnewspodcasts.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Dave Anthony]

In about 10 hours, President Trump will address the nation on primetime TV. And you can also hear it at foxnewsradio.com at 9:00pm Eastern.

[Rich Edson]

The White House press secretary says the president will highlight his accomplishments over the past year, a secure border, lower inflation than its peak under the Biden administration and reduced gas prices. She says the president may also tease some policies coming in the new year. The president scheduled this address as prices do remain high and polls show more Americans are disapproving of the White House handling of the economy, inflation and trade.

[Dave Anthony]

Fox's Rich Edson at the White House before all that, in a few hours, the president will go to Dover Air Force Base for what's called a dignified transfer of two American soldiers killed in a terror attack in Syria last week, a country he's since added to a list of nations under a travel ban. People from there not allowed to come here.

[Jared Halpert]

Sergeant Edgar Bryan Torres Tovar and Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard were both members of the Iowa National Guard. A US Civilian working as an interpreter was also killed in the attack. President Trump will salute the flag, drape transfer cases as honor guards carry them from a military aircraft to a vehicle for transport to the mortuary at the base.

[Dave Anthony]

That's Fox's Jared Halpert. And Democratic lawmakers in Maryland are going against the governor and their own party, overriding his vetoes on slavery reparations.

[Tanya J. Powers]

During a one day special session, Maryland lawmakers gave final approval to a bill that creates a reparations commission, overriding Democratic Governor West Moore's veto. The bill, which says the commission will study what reparations might look like in Maryland, was a priority for the Legislative Black Caucus and was vetoed by Moore, the state's first black governor, in May. At the time, Moore explained that the decision was difficult for him, but that now is not the time for another study. Lawmakers also overrode vetoes on a bill to study the impacts of data centers on the state and one to fund research on the impacts of climate change. Tanya J.

[Dave Anthony]

Powers, Fox News they're selling on Wall Street. The Dow's down 90 points, the Nasdaq's falling 234. I'm Dave Anthony.

[Fox News Radio Announcer]

Fox News Radio has complete coverage of President Donald Trump's address to the nation starting at 9pm Eastern. Download the Fox News app and click Listen. America is listening to FOX News.