11AM ET 12/22/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 11AM ET, December 22, 2025

Host: Dave Anthony
Reporters/Contributors: Jared Halpern, Ryan Schmelz, Greg Palkot, William LaJeunesse, Ainsley Earhart, Tonya J. Powers

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Overview

This episode delivers a rapid-fire roundup of top global and national news stories, focusing on escalating U.S.–Venezuela tensions over sanctioned oil tankers, sweeping Trump administration actions on offshore wind projects and immigration, bipartisan pressure on the DOJ over the Epstein investigation, developments in Russia-Ukraine peace talks, a high-profile murder case in Los Angeles, and a deadly truck crash involving an undocumented immigrant driver.

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Key Stories & Insights

1. U.S. Pursues Iran-Linked Oil Tanker Off Venezuela

• [00:02 – 00:32]
  • The U.S. is tracking an oil tanker linked to Iran off Venezuela’s coast. The vessel, which is under U.S. sanctions, is reportedly using a false flag to evade seizure.
  • Jared Halpern: “The tanker is reported to be under sanctions from the US and officials say the ship is flying a false flag to evade a judicial seizure order.”
  • President Trump announced a total blockade of oil tankers in and out of Venezuela the previous week. Multiple tankers operating on the black market have already been seized.
  • Theme: The administration continues its hardline stance on Iran and Venezuela, focusing on oil trade blocking.

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2. Offshore Wind Project Leases Suspended

• [00:32 – 01:07]
  • The Trump administration abruptly suspends all large-scale offshore wind energy leases, citing national security.
  • Interior Secretary Doug Burgum: The primary concern is radar interference near populous East Coast areas.
  • Ongoing administration pattern of prioritizing national security risks in energy infrastructure decisions.

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3. Congressional Frustration with DOJ Over Epstein Documents

• [01:07 – 01:30]
  • Lawmakers (Republican Thomas Massie, Democrat Ro Khanna) are drafting legislation to hold Attorney General Bondi in contempt for withholding key files in the Jeffrey Epstein case.
  • The DOJ has released 100,000+ heavily redacted pages, citing privacy of victims and ongoing investigations.
  • Quote: “DOJ officials argue the redactions are needed to protect victims’ information and the investigations.” (01:22)

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4. Moscow Bombing Kills Russian General; Peace Talks Continue

• [01:30 – 01:55]
  • A Russian general is killed in a bombing in Moscow. Authorities investigate possible Ukrainian involvement.
  • Over the weekend, peace negotiations in Miami were described as “productive” by special envoy Steve Witkoff after meetings with envoys from Russia, Ukraine, and Europe.
  • No direct Ukraine-Russia talks held.
  • Quote: “Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner met Sunday with officials from Ukraine and Europe. No face to face talks between the two sides were conducted.” (01:49)

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5. U.S. Offers Cash Bonuses for Voluntary Self-Deportation

• [02:04 – 02:40]
  • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced a holiday triple bonus: $3,000 and a paid plane ticket for undocumented immigrants who self-deport.
  • Ainsley Earhart: “You might get the chance to come back to this country the right way someday. If you wait until we interdict you and detain you and arrest you and have to deport you ourselves, you’ll never [have] the chance to come back.” (02:30)
  • Reflects ongoing policy of deterrence and incentivized voluntary removal.

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6. Deadly Crash by Released Undocumented Trucker Sparks Outrage

• [02:40 – 03:24]
  • Controversy in Seattle after King County released Kamalpreet Singh, an Indian national and undocumented immigrant, ignoring an ICE detainer.
  • Singh, who received a commercial driver's license despite his status, allegedly falsified logs and failed to attempt breaking before a deadly crash.
  • “His sister says the system failed Pearson, his wife and children.” (03:18)

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7. Community Gathers After Rob Reiner Murder; Son Remains Jailed

• [03:24 – 04:05]
  • Friends and family mourn famed director Rob Reiner and wife Michelle, killed in their LA home. Their son Nick, aged 32, is charged with double murder and remains on suicide watch.
  • Tonya J. Powers: “Robin [and] Michelle Reiner’s bodies were found inside their home on December 14th. They’d been stabbed to death. Their son Nick is charged with two counts of first degree murder.” (03:43)
  • Nick Reiner’s next court date is January 7.

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8. Financial Update

• [04:05 – End]
  • Positive market news: The Dow is up 205 points, NASDAQ up 107 points.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Jared Halpern [00:11]: “The tanker is reported to be under sanctions from the US and officials say the ship is flying a false flag to evade a judicial seizure order.”
• Ainsley Earhart [02:30]: “You might get the chance to come back to this country the right way someday. If you wait until we interdict you and detain you and arrest you and have to deport you ourselves, you’ll never the chance to come back.”
• Reporter [03:18]: “His sister says the system failed Pearson, his wife and children.”

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Timestamps & Segment Guide

• 00:02 – U.S. pursuit of Iranian oil tanker off Venezuela
• 00:32 – Offshore wind project lease suspensions
• 01:07 – Congressional action on Epstein files
• 01:30 – Russian general killed, peace talks update
• 02:04 – U.S. self-deportation incentives for undocumented immigrants
• 02:40 – Outcry over truck crash involving undocumented immigrant
• 03:24 – LA mourns Rob Reiner, murder charges for son
• 04:05 – Financial markets update

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Summary

This FOX News hourly update provides a brisk, information-dense recap of main headlines: American enforcement on oil sanctions, energy security policy shifts, bipartisan legislative action over transparency, continued volatility in Russian–Ukrainian relations, immigration policy maneuvers, local crime fallout, and Wall Street’s status. The tone is direct and urgent, echoing the breaking-news style, with quick transitions and an emphasis on policy, security, and public safety.

Transcript

[Dave Anthony]

It's an oil tanker linked to Iran. I'm Dave Anthony, FOX News. And the US Is pursuing it off the coast of Venezuela.

[Jared Halpern]

The tanker is reported to be under sanctions from the US and officials say the ship is flying a false flag to evade a judicial seizure order. President Trump announced a total blockade of oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela last week. One such vessel was seized over the weekend. A large crude tanker was also seized earlier this month. Both were operating on the black market.

[Dave Anthony]

White House officials say that's Fox's Jared Halpern. Now to something off the U.S. coast. The Trump administration immediately suspending the leases of all large scale offshore wind projects. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum tells FOX Business there are national security concerns that the projects create radar interference that creates a genuine risk for the US Particularly related to the where they are in proximity to our east coast population centers. Another Trump Cabinet member is under scrutiny on Capitol Hill where some lawmakers are upset the Justice Department's not fully complied with a mandate from Congress to hand over more files from the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Republican Congressman Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna say they're drafting legislation that would hold Attorney General Bondi in contempt of Congress. The Department of Justice has so far released over 100,000 pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, but the pages are heavily redacted. DOJ officials argue the redactions are needed to protect victims information and the investigations.

[Dave Anthony]

Fox's Ryan Schmelz, a Russian general was killed in a bombing this morning in Moscow. Investigators probing it if Ukraine did it. After more peace talks over the weekend in Miami trying to stop their war.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Special envoy Steve Witkoff called the negotiations productive after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy on Saturday. Witkoff and Trump's son in law Jared Kushner met Sunday with officials from Ukraine and Europe. No face to face talks between the two sides were conducted.

[Dave Anthony]

That's fox's Greg Palkot. 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.

[Dave Anthony]

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. As the Trump administration continues to crack down on illegal immigration. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem tells Fox they're tripling the cash bonus on the holidays for immigrants here illegally to self deport, paying them $3,000 and also paying for their plane tickets back home.

[Ainsley Earhart]

And you might get the chance to come back to this country the right way someday. If you wait until we interdict you and detain you and arrest you and have to deport you ourselves, you'll never the chance to come back.

[Dave Anthony]

There's controversy in Washington state over the release of an illegal immigrant truck driver involved in a deadly crash.

[William Lajeunesse]

Despite that ICE detainer, not only did Seattle's King county release him and never even presented a case against 25 year old Kamalpreet Singh, an Indian national who illegally crossed the border in 2023. Released by the Biden administration with a work permit, Singh got a California commercial driver's license despite rules against giving CDLs to non citizens. According to police, Singh falsified his logbook before the crash by enlisting a co driver to extend his hours. Police say he also made, quote, no attempt to break killing Blake Pearson, who was simply stuck in traffic. His sister says the system failed. Pearson, his wife and children.

[Dave Anthony]

That's fox's William lajeuness. A week after famed movie director Rob Reiner and his wife were murdered in their Los Angeles home, family and friends.

[Ainsley Earhart]

Of Robin Michelle Singer Reiner gathered at his sister Annie's home in Los Angeles on Sunday. Reiner's younger brother Lucas was seen heading into the gathering as other guests showed up with what appeared to be boxes of food. Robin Michelle Reiner's bodies were found inside their home on December 14th. They'd been stabbed to death. Their son Nick is charged with two counts of first degree murder. Nick, who is 32, has been in solitary confinement at Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown L. A and reportedly remains on suicide watch. He is due back in court January 7th. Tonya J. Powers, FOX News On Wall street, the.

[Dave Anthony]

Dow is up 205 points. The NASDAQ is gaining 107. I'm Dave Anthony. This is FOX NEWS.