11AM ET 12/21/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 11AM ET 12/21/2025 Newscast
Date: December 21, 2025
Host: Angelo Bavaro (Fox News), with reports from Chanley Painter, Kristen Goodwin, and Jack Callahan

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a rapid-fire roundup of major news stories as of midday December 21, 2025. Anchored by Angelo Bavaro, coverage spans international violence, ongoing investigations into campus shootings, U.S. intervention in Venezuela, controversy around missing Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the anniversary of the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing, and a record Powerball jackpot. The tone is urgent and informative, filled with journalist reports and key developing updates.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Mass Shooting in South Africa

[00:02–00:42]

• A devastating shooting at a pub near Johannesburg left 9 dead and at least 10 wounded.
• Multiple suspects arrived in vehicles, opened fire inside, and continued to shoot while fleeing.
• Police have launched a manhunt; motive currently unknown.
• Quote:
  “Nine people are dead and at least 10 others injured after gunmen opened fire at a pub in South Africa... Multiple suspects arrived in vehicles, fired at patrons inside that tavern and then continued shooting as they fled.”
  • Angelo Bavaro [00:02]

2. Brown University and MIT Shooting Investigation

[00:42–01:24]; [02:31–03:32]

• Authorities located the body of the main suspect in a New Hampshire storage unit, along with ammo, body armor, and electronic devices, suggesting premeditation.
• The suspect, Claudio Neves Valente, was a former PhD student at Brown University; he died by suicide after the attacks.
• Shootings left 2 dead, 9 injured; 3 victims discharged, 6 remain hospitalized.
• Motive still undetermined.
• Former classmate describes the suspect as confrontational and frustrated with academic and personal life in the US.
• Quote:
  “Authorities saying that they found in that New Hampshire storage unit extensive ammunition, body armor and electric devices. Police indicating the suspect engaged in this amount of pre-planning and surveillance before the attacks.”
  • Chanley Painter [00:42]
• Quote:
  “A former classmate of the suspect is also speaking out, saying he was often confrontational, adding his frustration with life in the US, his courses and his professors sometime reached the level of anger.”
  • (Unnamed reporter, likely Chanley Painter) [02:31]

3. U.S. Intercepts Vessel Off Venezuela

[01:24–02:00]

• U.S. forces intercepted another vessel in international waters near Venezuela following President Trump’s announced blockade targeting sanctioned oil tankers.
• Officials are withholding details about the vessel and operation location.
• Quote:
  “Reuters is reporting that the US has intercepted another vessel off the coast of Venezuela in international waters. That move comes days after President Trump announced a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.”
  • Angelo Bavaro [01:24]

4. Missing Jeffrey Epstein Case Files

[02:31–03:32]

• At least 16 files related to the Epstein case vanished from the DOJ website less than a day after posting; materials include a photo of Donald Trump with Epstein, Melania Trump, and Ghislaine Maxwell.
• DOJ claims files are under review and redaction; the removal stirs speculation and criticism, especially from House Democrats.
• Quote:
  “The missing material reportedly includes a photo showing Donald Trump alongside Epstein, Melania Trump and Ghislaine Maxwell. Justice Department says materials remain under review and redaction, the removal fueling though online speculation and criticism from House Democrats, among others.”
  • Reporter [02:31]

5. Anniversary of Pan Am Flight 103 Bombing

[03:32–04:15]

• 37th anniversary marked by memorial services, including at Arlington National Cemetery.
• The tragedy killed 270 people in 1988, including 190 Americans.
• Updates on legal proceedings against Libyan suspects—one acquitted, one deceased, a third awaiting trial in the U.S.
• Quote:
  “Each year, there are a number of memorial services that honor those who lost their lives, including at Arlington National Cemetery in Northern Virginia.”
  • Kristen Goodwin [03:44]

6. Powerball Lottery Update

[04:15–04:28]

• No Powerball winner; jackpot rises to $1.6 billion for the next drawing.
• Quote:
  “No. 1 picked the winning Powerball numbers last night… The one and a half billion dollar jackpot grows to 1.6 billion tomorrow night.”
  • Jack Callahan [04:15]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He was very prepared apparently. But they say they're still searching for a possible motive in the deadly shootings at Brown university...”
  • Chanley Painter [00:51]
• “At least 16 files have vanished from the Justice Department's public webpage tied to the Jeffrey Epstein files less than a day after they were posted.”
  • Reporter [02:31]
• “In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 took off from London's Heathrow Airport bound for New York City. But 38 minutes into the flight, it exploded over Scotland, killing 270 people, including 190 Americans.”
  • Kristen Goodwin [03:32]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:02–00:42: South Africa mass shooting report
• 00:42–01:24: Brown University/MIT shooting investigation
• 01:24–02:00: U.S. action against Venezuelan vessel
• 02:31–03:32: Epstein DOJ file controversy; suspect’s background
• 03:32–04:15: Pan Am Flight 103 anniversary coverage
• 04:15–04:28: Powerball jackpot update

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Episode Tone & Takeaways

Urgent, concise, and focused on breaking developments, the newscast delivers global events and domestic controversies with a serious, matter-of-fact tone, emphasizing the ongoing nature of several investigations and the public’s hunger for transparency and justice.

Transcript

[A]

New details after a deadly mass shooting. I'm angelo Bavaro, Fox News. Nine people are dead and at least 10 others injured after gunmen opened fire at a pub in South Africa. Police say the shooting happened just before 1am in a town west of Johannesburg. Multiple suspects arrived in vehicles, fired at patrons inside that tavern and then continued shooting as they fled. A manhunt is underway. That attack marks South Africa's second mass shooting in three weeks as gun violence continues to plague that country. Authorities continue to investigate the motive into the shooting at Brown University after the suspect's body was found in a storage unit in New Hampshire.

[B]

Fox's Chanley Painter Authorities saying that they found in that New Hampshire storage unit extensive ammunition, body armor and electric devices. Police indicating the suspect engaged in this amount of pre planning and surveillance before the attacks. He was very prepared apparently. But they say they're still searching for a possible motive in the deadly shootings at Brown university that left two dead and nine others hurt and in the killing of the MIT professor last week. Claudio Neves Valente, a 48 year old Portuguese national and former PhD student at Brown University more than 20 years ago was found dead from a self inflicted gunshot wound days after the shootings.

[A]

Three of those injured victims have been discharged from the hospital. Six people are still in stable condition. Reuters is reporting that the US has intercepted another vessel off the coast of Venezuela in international waters. That move comes days after President Trump announced a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. Officials are not saying which vessel was intercepted and did not give a specific location for that operation. America is listening to Fox News.

[C]

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[D]

A Fox News source confirming the body of the suspected Brown University and MIT killer was found in a New Hampshire storage unit with extensive ammunition, body armor and electronic devices. A former classmate of the suspect is also speaking out, saying he was often confrontational, adding his frustration with life in the US his courses and his professors sometime reached the level of anger. Police say they are still searching for a possible motive in those deadly shootings without explanation. At least 16 files have vanished from the Justice Department's public webpage tied to the Jeffrey Epstein files less than a day after they were posted. The missing material reportedly includes a photo showing Donald Trump alongside Epstein, Melania Trump and Ghislaine Maxwell. Justice Department says materials remain under review and redaction, the removal fueling though online speculation and criticism from House Democrats, among others. It's been 37 years since the terrorist bomb took down pan AM Flight 103. Today, memorial services are being held four days before Christmas.

[E]

In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 took off from London's Heathrow Airport bound for New York City. But 38 minutes into the flight, it exploded over Scotland, killing 270 people, including 190Americans. Each year, there are a number of memorial services that honor those who lost their lives, including at Arlington National Cemetery in Northern Virginia. A former Libyan intelligence official and another Libyan man were charged with planting the explosive inside of a portable cassette player in a suitcase. One was acquitted, the other sentenced to life, but was released from a Scottish prison with terminal prostate cancer and died soon after. A third man accused of building the bomb is in U.S. custody awaiting trial. Kristen Goodwin, Fox News.

[D]

No. 1 picked the winning Powerball numbers last night. 4528-5269 Powerball 20. The one and a half billion dollar jackpot grows to 1.6 billion tomorrow night. I'm Jack Callahan. This is FOX News.

[E]

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

[A]

Jesus, a listening experience that will provide.

[D]

Hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.