11PM ET 12/19/2025 Newscast

Summary

---

Fox News Hourly Update – 11PM ET 12/19/2025

Date: December 20, 2025
Host: Lisa Licera | FOX News Podcasts

---

Episode Theme

A fast-paced newscast delivering major national and international headlines, political updates, breaking legal and business news, and developments in pop culture and economics as of December 19, 2025.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Retaliatory US Military Strikes on ISIS in Syria

• Context:
  • The US military responded forcefully after two American soldiers and a translator were killed in Syria.
• Details:
  • Operation: “Operation Hawkeye Strike I” coordinated by US Central Command.
  • Dozens of ISIS targets hit, including infrastructure and weapons storage sites, across multiple locations in Syria.
• Pentagon Statement:
  • Pete Hegseth, Pentagon Chief, emphasized the operation is not a war escalation but a calculated reprisal.
    • Memorable Quote:
      • “This is not the beginning of a war. It is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America under President Trump's leadership will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people.”
        (Pete Hegseth, 00:36)
• Political Standpoint:
  • President Trump announced via Truth Social that Syria’s government “fully supports the operation.”
    (Lisa Licera, 00:48)

---

2. Update: Brown and MIT Shooting Suspect Identified

• Breaking Developments:
  • Claudio Neves Valente, suspect in the recent Ivy League shootings, was found dead.
  • Coroner’s Report: Deceased for two days prior to discovery. (Lisa Licera, 00:48)
• How Police Cracked the Case:
  • A tip about the suspect’s car on Reddit was a key breakthrough.
    • Told by: Fox’s Jennifer Griffin
    • Notable Insight:
      • The tipster, a former Brown grad and homeless man, had an “odd encounter” with the shooter and remembered the car details.
        (Jennifer Griffin, 01:07)

---

3. Political Event: President Trump’s Drug Price Deal

• Rally Highlight:
  • President Trump held a campaign-style rally in Rocky Mountain, NC, focusing on his administration’s efforts to lower drug prices. (Lisa Licera, 01:21)
• Policy Details:
  • Announced that 14 of the 17 largest drug companies have agreed to his price reduction plan.
    • Trump’s Direct Quote:
      • “For years, Americans have been paying the highest drug prices anywhere in the world by far, 10 times more, sometimes 15 times more, while other countries pay drastically less for the exact same drug made in the exact same plant in the exact same country.”
        (Brooke Taylor quoting Trump, 01:30)
• Next Steps:
  • President heads to Florida for the holidays after the rally.

---

4. Congressional Gridlock on Healthcare Subsidies

• Status:
  • Congress adjourned for the holidays without renewing Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) subsidies, affecting over 20 million Americans.
    (Lisa Licera, 02:31)
• House Action:
  • Republicans passed a healthcare bill intending to lower costs but did not renew subsidies.
  • Four Republicans crossed over, joining Democrats on a discharge petition for subsidy extension, but Speaker Johnson withheld it from the vote. (Jessica Rosenthal, 02:39)
• Senate Prospects:
  • Majority Leader John Thune signaled bipartisan support might be possible if Democrats agree to “major health care reforms.”
• Impact:
  • If not addressed, millions may face higher health insurance premiums next year.
    (Lisa Licera, 03:19)

---

5. Sony Buys Majority Stake in Peanuts Franchise

• Business News:
  • Sony acquired an additional stake in “Peanuts” (Snoopy, Charlie Brown, etc.), increasing its ownership to 80% (Jenny Coselda, 03:30)
  • 20% remains with the Schulz family.
  • Sale is valued at over $1 billion; previous Canadian owner Wildbrain retains other properties (Teletubbies, Strawberry Shortcake).
• Background:
  • Sony has represented Peanuts in Japan since 2010.

---

6. US Home Sales Trends

• Economy Update:
  • November saw a slight increase (0.5%) in existing home sales, yet totals are still 1% lower than the previous year. (Lisa Licera, 04:08)
  • Annualized rate: 4.13 million units, per the National Association of Realtors.

---

Notable Quotes & Standout Moments

• Pentagon’s Strong Message Against ISIS:

  • “This is not the beginning of a war. It is a declaration of vengeance.”
    (Pete Hegseth, 00:36)

• President Trump on US Drug Prices:

  • “Americans have been paying the highest drug prices anywhere in the world by far, 10 times more, sometimes 15 times more…”
    (Brooke Taylor quoting Trump, 01:30)

• On Social Media Sleuthing:

  • “Police say a Reddit tipster cracked open the case by posting the suspect's car description.”
    (Jennifer Griffin, 01:07)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• US Strikes on ISIS in Syria: 00:03–00:48
• Brown/MIT Shooting Update: 00:48–01:21
• Trump’s Drug Price Deal/Rally: 01:21–01:47
• Congress Leaves Without ACA Subsidy Extension: 02:31–03:19
• Sony Acquires Peanuts: 03:30–04:08
• US Housing Market Update: 04:08–04:28

---

Transcript

[Lisa Licera]

Retaliation for attacks on Americans. I'm Lisa Licera of Fox News. The US Military has launched a large scale attack on ISIS targets in Syria after the killing last weekend of two American soldiers and their translator stationed in Syria.

[Pete Hegseth]

US Central Command launched a massive strike on dozens of ISIS targets in an operation called Operation Hawkeye Strike I, Iowa is the Hawkeye State. The strikes took place at multiple locations across Syria. The targets include ISIS infrastructure and weapons storage sites. Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth tweeted, quote, this is not the beginning of a war. It is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America under President Trump's leadership will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people.

[Lisa Licera]

Fox's Jennifer Griffin in Washington. President Trump posting on Truth Social that the government of Syria fully supports the operation. The coroner's office in New Hampshire says Claudio Neves Valente, the suspect in the Brown and MIT shootings, had been dead for two days before his body was found. And there's new information about what led investigators to him.

[Jennifer Griffin]

Police say a Reddit tipster cracked open the case by posting the suspect's car description. Sources say he's a homeless man and a former Brown University grad. He had an odd encounter with the shooter earlier in the day and remembered what his car looked like.

[Lisa Licera]

Fox's Brooke Taylor in Providence. President Trump holding a campaign style rally tonight in Rocky Mountain, North Carolina, touting the deal he made to lower drug prices.

[Brooke Taylor]

For years, Americans have been paying the highest drug prices anywhere in the world by far, 10 times more, sometimes 15 times more, while other countries pay drastically less for the exact same drug made in the exact same plant in the exact same country.

[Lisa Licera]

President says 14 of the 17 largest drug companies have signed off on the plan. President now heads to Florida for the holidays. America's listening to FOX News.

[LegalZoom Announcer]

Life is more legal than you think. And LegalZoom is here to help. From setting up a will to secure your family's future to taking the next step with your business and registering as an LLC or sorting the permits to legally run it from home. Or maybe not. When you need a legal hand, turn to LegalZoom. Visit legalzoom.com LegalZoom provides access to independent attorneys and self service tools. LegalZoom is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Visit legalzoom.com.

[Lisa Licera]

Congress has left D.C. for the holidays without extending Affordable Care act subsidies, though both sides expect to address it when they return this week.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

Before the holiday break, House Republicans passed a health care bill they say will lower costs across the board, but it did not extend the Obamacare subsidies for more than 20 million Americans as they lapse at the end of this year. Four Republicans then broke ranks and signed onto a discharge petition with Democrats that would extend subsidies, but Speaker Johnson did not bring that to the floor. He did say it's inevitable that this discharge petition will come up when lawmakers return in January. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he could see a path forward on subsidy extensions that a majority of senators could get behind if Democrats accept some major health care reforms. Jessica Rosenthal, Fox News if the subsidies.

[Lisa Licera]

Aren'T extended, millions of Americans will see a rise in health care insurance premiums next year. Some popular cartoon characters are fix and fixtures during the holiday season have a new owner.

[Jenny Coselda]

Snoopy and the Peanuts gang will be mostly owned by Sony, which purchased an additional stake in peanuts holdings for $450 million. Sony now owns 80%. The family of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schultz will retain the remaining 20%. Sony is buying the stake from Canadian entertainment company Wildbrain, which also owns the Teletubbies and Strawberry Shortcake brands. Sony was first involved with peanuts in 2010 as its business agent in Japan. The the sale values the Peanuts business at more than $1 billion. Jenny Coselda, Fox News Sales of previously.

[Lisa Licera]

Occupied U.S. homes rose in November from the previous month, but slowed compared to a year earlier. The national association of Realtors says existing home sales rose half percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.13 million units. Sales fell 1% compared with November last year. I'm Lisa Licera. This is Fox News.

[Jennifer Griffin]

This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podC the Life of Jesus.

[Ainsley Earhart]

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.