11PM ET 12/07/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 11PM ET 12/07/2025 Newscast

Date: December 8, 2025
Host: Ted Lindner (FOX News Podcasts)
Episode Theme:
A concise roundup of the top U.S. and international news events, with a focus on political happenings involving President Trump, ongoing immigration enforcement controversies, major incidents both domestic and international, and a snapshot of the latest in culture and entertainment.

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Main News Themes & Highlights

1. President Trump at the Kennedy Center Honors

• Board Changes and Fundraising:
  President Trump hosted the annual Kennedy Center Honors, announcing that, following a board reorganization and fundraising efforts, the institution would soon reflect his vision.
• Remarks at the Event:

  “It’s going to be fantastic. When you see the end product, it’s going to be better than it was new. And I think we’ll celebrate that. But I will say that our country is doing really well.”
  —President Donald Trump (00:18)

• Joke on Resignation:
  The president joked about resigning if things didn’t go well, referencing the high-profile honorees of the night, including Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, the band KISS, Gloria Gaynor, and Michael Crawford.

2. U.S.-Ukraine Negotiations

• Status of Talks:
  The Trump administration concluded another round of talks with Ukrainian negotiators in Florida, with no major breakthrough.
• Presidential Frustration:

  “President Zelensky hasn’t yet read the proposal... His people love it, but he has it. Russia’s fine with it.”
  —President Donald Trump (00:53)

3. Immigration Enforcement & Protests

• Protests in Kenner, Louisiana:
  Locals protested ICE agents' presence by blowing whistles and honking horns, alerting fellow residents.
• Official Support:

  “And all we’re doing is enforcing the law.”
  —President Donald Trump (01:22)

• Senator John Kennedy’s Perspective:
  Senator Kennedy defends the enforcement actions, emphasizing adherence to the law.
• Comment on Illegal Presence:

  “Is, is don’t be in our country illegally.”
  —Ted Lindner (01:28)
  “Duh.”
  —President Donald Trump (01:31)

• Protests in Chicago Metro / Elgin:
  Tensions escalate as demonstrators clash with federal agents, leading to some arrests. Protesters throw snowballs; agents deploy tear gas (01:32–01:50).

4. International Incident: Migrant Boat Capsizes off Crete

• Tragedy in the Mediterranean:
  At least 18 migrants die after their boat capsizes south of Crete; rescue operations ongoing. The incident is part of an uptick in crossings from Libya (03:44).

5. Cuellar Pardon & Political Fallout

• Recent Pardon:
  President Trump preemptively pardoned Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) following federal indictments last year for bribery, conspiracy, and money laundering.
• Cuellar’s Response:

  “I’m a Democrat, probably one of the most, if not the most bipartisan Democrat. And as I told some of my Republican friends on the House floor, I vote better than some of the Republicans.”
  —Henry Cuellar to FOX (04:24)

• President’s Critique:
  Trump criticizes Cuellar for “continuing to work with the same radical left,” reacting publicly on social media (04:04).

6. Crime and Immigration in North Carolina

• High-Profile Incident:
  A two-time deported Honduran migrant with a significant criminal record is accused of a stabbing on a Charlotte train—the second such incident this year (04:53).
• Link to Policy Changes:
  The crime occurred shortly after ICE ended operations in Charlotte, prompting President Trump to criticize Democratic leadership:

  “Another stabbing by an illegal migrant in Charlotte, North Carolina. What is going on in Charlotte? Democrats are destroying it like everything else, piece by piece.” (05:13)

7. Entertainment Brief: Box Office News

• “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” Shatters Records:
  The sequel achieves a $63 million opening weekend, setting a new record post-Thanksgiving (05:25).

  “...the biggest opening for the weekend after Thanksgiving.”
  —Ted Lindner (05:30)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump on Kennedy Center Renovations:
  “It’s going to be better than it was new.” (00:18)
• Blunt Take on Undocumented Immigrants:
  “Is, is don’t be in our country illegally.” (Ted Lindner, 01:28)
  “Duh.” (President Donald Trump, 01:31)
• Cuellar’s Bipartisanship Claim:
  “I vote better than some of the Republicans.” (Henry Cuellar, 04:24)
• Presidential Frustration on Charlotte Crime:
  “Democrats are destroying it like everything else, piece by piece.” (President Donald Trump, 05:13)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment | |---------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:03 | Introduction: Kennedy Center Honors, Trump’s remarks | | 00:29 | Recap of Ukrainian talks and Trump’s statement | | 01:02 | ICE protests in Louisiana, Senator Kennedy’s comments | | 01:32 | ICE protests and standoff in Chicago/Elgin | | 03:44 | Mediterranean migrant tragedy | | 04:04 | Trump’s pardon of Cuellar and ensuing political fallout | | 04:53 | Charlotte stabbing, immigration debate reignites | | 05:25 | Box office update: Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 |

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Overall Tone

• The tone is brisk and direct, with a focus on conveying both factual updates and pointed political commentary, especially from President Trump. News is relayed with minimal editorializing outside of sourced statements, but the inclusion of quotes and social media posts from political leaders injects a charged, sometimes confrontational edge.

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Summary Takeaway:
This episode delivers a rapid-fire overview of the day’s dominant stories: President Trump’s cultural and political moves, ongoing U.S.-Ukraine negotiations, hot-button immigration enforcement and protest coverage, international tragedies, and political skirmishes linked to crime and pardons. Entertainment news provides a lighter bookend, but politics and public safety are at the heart of the broadcast.

Transcript

[Ted Lindner]

The president hosting the Kennedy Center Honors. I'm Ted Lindner. Fox News this after the president reorganized its board after taking office and began fundraising efforts to realign it to his vision. The president tonight telling reporters at the Kennedy center it's all going his way.

[President Donald Trump]

This is really a night of joy tonight because of what's happening with this building. It's going to be fantastic. When you see the end product, it's going to be better than it was new. And I think we'll celebrate that. But I will say that our country is doing really well.

[Ted Lindner]

Earlier, the president joked he would resign if he didn't do well, including actor Sylvester Stallone and singer songwriter George Strait, as well as the rock band Kiss and singers Gloria Gaynor as well as actor Michael Crawford. The Trump administration finishing another round of talks with Ukrainian negotiators in Florida Saturday, but no major progress has been made. The president also talked about that, saying he's disappointed with Ukraine's leader.

[President Donald Trump]

President Zelensky hasn't yet read the proposal. That was as of a few hours ago. His people love it, but he has it. Russia's fine with it.

[Ted Lindner]

Meantime, near New Orleans, protesters have been following ICE agents around in the town of Kenner warning people the agents are there blowing whistles and honking horns.

A little of what it sounded like there, GOP Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana telling Fox the Trump administration's sending in ICE agents to simply enforce the law.

[President Donald Trump]

And all we're doing is enforcing the law.

[Riverbend Ranch Narrator]

Look, the best way to avoid ICE.

[Ted Lindner]

Is, is don't be in our country illegally.

[President Donald Trump]

Duh.

[Ted Lindner]

Protesters criticizing New Orleans officials for not doing enough to stop the immigration crackdown in the Chicago metro area. Social media video showing protesters throwing snowballs amid a standoff with federal officers in the city of Elgin.

Demonstrators shouting as agents deployed tear gas. Some protesters were arrested. America's listening to FOX News.

[News Reporter]

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[Riverbend Ranch Narrator]

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[Ted Lindner]

Greek Authorities say at least 18 migrants died when their inflatable boat capsized south of Crete while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea. A passing Turkish merchant ship spotted the half sunken boat and two survivors were rescued. A search still underway for any missing. No word on where the boat originated from. In recent months, there's been a noticeable increase in arrivals from Libya. Just a few days after President Trump issued a preemptive pardon for embattled Congressman Henry Cuellar. President lashing out at the Texas Democrat on his true social platform. Cuellar announced he's running for reelection as a Democrat, which prompted the president to blast him for in his words, continuing to work with the same radical left. Cuellar telling fox, I'm a Democrat, probably one of the most, if not the most bipartisan Democrat. And as I told some of my Republican friends on the House floor, I vote better than some of the Republicans. Cuellar and his wife Imelda were indicted last year on several counts including bribery, conspiracy and money laundering. Cuellar has maintain their innocence. And an illegal immigrant jailed in Charlotte, North Carolina, accused of stabbing someone on a train, the second such incident in the city this year.

[News Reporter]

Sources say he's a two time deported migrant from Honduras who also has quite the long rap sheet already. He's also facing now attempted first degree murder charges and assault with a deadly weapon. The attack happened just two weeks after ICE operations ended in Charlotte. And now President Trump is putting the city back on blast saying quote, another stabbing by an illegal migrant in Charlotte, North Carolina. What is going on in Charlotte? Democrats are destroying it like everything else, piece by piece.

[Ted Lindner]

Fox's Caroline Elliott the box office five nights at Freddy's to breaking a record with its debut estimated haul from North America theaters this weekend, $63 million. The biggest opening for the weekend after Thanksgiving. I'm Ted Lindner and This is Fox News.

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