11AM ET 12/26/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 11AM ET, December 26, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode delivers the latest breaking news from the Fox News team, focusing on major political developments, international issues, weather updates affecting holiday travel, health insurance policy, and regional conflict updates. The main themes are U.S. involvement in global affairs, diplomatic negotiations over the conflict in Ukraine, a U.S. military strike in Nigeria, winter weather's impact on travel, and healthcare policy changes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump-Zelensky Summit Set Amid Ukraine-Russia Negotiations

• Announcement of a High-Profile Meeting

  • President Trump is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago this Sunday, following recent negotiations with Ukrainian and Russian officials.
  • (00:02, Paul Stevens): “President Trump is now set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this Sunday at Mar-a-Lago after days of talks among White House, Ukrainian and Russian officials.”

• Recent Diplomatic Progress

  • According to Trump adviser Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, negotiations in the last two weeks have reportedly surpassed all progress from earlier in the year.
  • The main obstacles include the status of Ukraine's Donbas region and the Zaporizhzhia power plant.
  • Reports suggest Putin may consider territorial swaps but demands full control of Donbas.

• Ukrainian Stance on Concessions

  • President Zelensky maintains that any territorial concessions would require a national referendum. The U.S. has proposed a demilitarized economic zone, which Zelensky conditionally supports if Russian forces withdraw.
  • (00:35, Jessica Rosenthal): "The main sticking point still appears to be Ukraine's Donbas region and the Zaporizhzhia power plant… Zelensky says he'd agree to [the economic zone] if Russian troops pulled out of such an area as well.”

2. U.S. Airstrikes in Nigeria Target ISIS

• Strike Against ISIS Following Attacks

  • President Trump announced a U.S. airstrike in northwest Nigeria on Christmas night, targeting ISIS for attacks against Christians.
  • In a statement on Truth Social, Trump described the action as decisive, promising continued action if attacks persist.
  • (01:11, Peter Doocy quoting Trump): "Tonight, at my direction as commander in chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist scum in northwest Nigeria who have been targeting and viciously killing primarily innocent Christians at levels not seen for many years and even centuries."

• Context and Controversy

  • The operation follows recent ISIS-related attacks during the holiday season.
  • Some Nigerian officials and regional analysts question the scale of Christian persecution described by Trump.
  • (01:45, Paul Stevens): “The president's claims about Christian persecution have been disputed by both the Nigerian government and some regional analysts.”

3. Post-Holiday Travel Disruptions Due to Major Winter Storm

• Weather and Travel Impacts

  • Millions are traveling after the holidays, but significant disruptions are occurring due to severe weather in the Northeast.
  • Over 1,800 flight delays and nearly 800 cancellations are reported, with JFK being hardest hit.
  • Forecasts predict 3–5 inches of snow in central New Jersey to New York City, with localized totals of 5–8 inches or more.
  • (02:50, Brooke Taylor): "JFK experiencing the most issues right now... it's going to be maybe not a snowy Christmas, but a snowy day after Christmas. According to the Fox Forecast center. The storm is going to peak overnight."

• Weather Trivia

  • It’s been over 1,400 days since New York City last received more than six inches of snow within 24 hours.
  • (03:19, Paul Stevens): "It's been over 1,400 days since New York City last saw more than 6 inches of snow in any 24 hour window.”

4. President Trump Signals Push for Lower Health Insurance Rates

• Upcoming Talks with Insurance Companies

  • Trump may meet with major insurance executives next week, urging them to "cut your rates way down" to avoid future exclusion from federal programs.
  • (03:46, President Trump): “And I want to meet with them and I want to say I want you to cut your rates way down, way, way down. And maybe if they do that, we’ll be able to not cut them out."

• Affordable Care Act Premium Increases

  • Americans enrolled via the ACA are facing premium hikes as subsidies expire at year’s end.
  • Trump wants direct federal funding to individuals for insurance purchases.

5. Mosque Bombing in Homs, Syria

• Continued Regional Instability
  • At least six people killed and 21 wounded in a mosque bombing during Friday prayers.
  • The event comes amid a spike in violence across Syria.
  • (04:12, Paul Stevens): “Authorities say a bombing in a mosque in the Syrian city of Homs during Friday prayers killed at least 6 people and wounded 21 others."

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rapid Progress in Ukraine Talks

  • (00:21, Jessica Rosenthal): “They have made more progress in the last two weeks than they have all year.”

• Presidential Directive Against ISIS

  • (01:16, Peter Doocy quoting Trump): “There would be hell to pay. And tonight there was.”

• Travel Disruption Outlook

  • (02:58, Brooke Taylor): “So it is going to be maybe not a snowy Christmas, but a snowy day after Christmas.”

• Trump on Health Insurers

  • (03:46, President Trump): “I want you to cut your rates way down, way, way down.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Ukraine Negotiations & Trump-Zelensky Meeting: 00:02 – 00:56
• U.S. Airstrikes in Nigeria & Christian Persecution Claims: 00:56 – 01:45
• Weather/Travel Delays: 02:32 – 03:19
• Healthcare Policy & Insurer Talks: 03:19 – 04:12
• Syrian Mosque Bombing: 04:12 – 04:29

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Summary

This concise, rapidly paced Fox News update covers major developments in U.S. foreign policy, whether it be peace talks or military action, as well as domestic concerns over winter weather and forthcoming healthcare cost debates. The tone blends urgency with factual reporting, foregrounding President Trump’s direct involvement in international negotiations and domestic policy, and spotlighting the global and local challenges facing Americans as the year ends.

Transcript

[Paul Stevens]

Another sit down. I'm Paul Stevens, Fox News. President Trump is now set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this Sunday at Mar a Lago after days of talks among White House, Ukrainian and Russian officials.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

President Trump's adviser Steve Witkoff and son in law Jared Kushner have been meeting with Russian and Ukrainian officials over the last two months. But one official told Axios they have made more progress in the last two weeks than they have all year. The main sticking point still appears to be Ukraine's Donbas region and the Zaporizhzhia power plant. A Russian newspaper reported that Vladimir Putin told a group of businessmen he might be open to some territory swaps of land Russia currently holds, but that he wants all of the Donbass. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has said territorial concessions would have to be approved by referendum. The US Proposal creates a demilitarized free economic zone, which Zelensky says he'd agree to if Russian troops pulled out of such an area as well. Jessica Rosenthal, Fox News.

[Paul Stevens]

President Trump saying the U.S. launched airstrikes in northwest Nigeria on Christmas night. They targeted ISIS for allegedly killing Christians. He called the operation decisive and he also warned about further attacks. More from Fox's Peter Doocy in D.C.

[Peter Doocy]

President Trump's official word on this came via Truth Social in a post that says, tonight, at my direction as commander in chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist scum in northwest Nigeria who have been targeting and viciously killing primarily innocent Christians at levels not seen for many years and even centuries. I have previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay. And tonight there was. This follows a handful of ISIS linked or ISIS inspired attacks that rattled the whole world this holiday season.

[Paul Stevens]

But the president's claims about Christian persecution have been disputed by both the Nigerian government and some regional analysts. America is listening to FOX News.

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[Paul Stevens]

The holiday season now winding down, but many Americans will still be traveling ahead of the New Year's. And the weather could have an impact on those plans. Over 8 million Americans were expected to fly over the holiday season, according to AAA. Our Brooke Taylor is at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, according to FlightAware.

[Brooke Taylor]

We have more than 1800 delays, almost 800 cancellations. JFK experiencing the most issues right now. The Fox forecast center predicting 3 to 5 inches of snow from central New Jersey to New York City into southern Connecticut, New York City, northern New Jersey and western Long island could see 5 to 8 inches or more. So it is going to be maybe not a snowy Christmas, but a snowy day after Christmas. According to the Fox Forecast center. The storm is going to peak overnight.

[Paul Stevens]

And the Fox forecast center also says get this, it's been over 1400 days since New York City last saw more than 6 inches of snow in any 24 hour window. President Trump wants major health insurers to bring down their costs.

[Jared Halpern]

A meeting with the president and major insurance executives could happen as early as next week as President Trump pressures the health care companies to bring down prices ahead of premium spikes for millions of Americans.

[President Donald Trump]

And I want to meet with them and I want to say I want you to cut your rates way down, way, way down. And maybe if they do that, we'll be able to not cut them out. We'll be able to continue to deal with them.

[Jared Halpern]

Individuals who buy health care coverage through the Affordable Care act are facing higher premiums when subsidies expire at the end of the year. President Trump wants federal funding to be given directly to individuals to buy their own health insurance. In Washington, Jared Halpern, FOX News.

[Paul Stevens]

And authorities say a bombing in a mosque in the Syrian city of Homs during Friday prayers killed at least 6 people and wounded 21 others that attacked. Coming as tensions have flared across several parts of Syria in recent weeks. I'm Paul Stevens. This is FOX News.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

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

[Jared Halpern]

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.