11PM ET 12/28/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 11PM ET, December 28, 2025

Main Theme:
This episode provides a concise roundup of major national and international headlines, with a focus on progress toward peace in Ukraine, a helicopter accident in New Jersey, a major fraud investigation in Minnesota, U.S. economic trends, severe winter weather forecasts, and the passing of French film icon Brigitte Bardot.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Progress Toward Peace in Ukraine

• [00:03–00:41]
  • US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met at Mar-a-Lago.
  • Both leaders reported significant progress in negotiations to end the Ukraine war with Russia.
  • President Trump was optimistic:

    "You can say 95%, but I don't like to say percentages. I just think we're doing very well. We're very, we could be very close." (Donald Trump, [00:19])

  • Zelensky noted ongoing talks regarding security guarantees from the US and Europe, as well as future benefits for Ukraine.
  • Discussions also involved a "prosperity plan" for Ukraine and sequencing next steps.
  • Talks are expected to continue into January, including potential negotiations with Russia on territorial disputes and the framework for ending hostilities.

2. Midair Helicopter Collision in New Jersey

• [00:54–01:17]
  • Two helicopters collided near Hamilton Airport, southern New Jersey, around noon.
  • One pilot died and another was critically injured.
  • The FAA and NTSB are leading the investigation into the crash.

3. Minnesota Fraud Scheme Under Scrutiny

• [01:17–01:52]
  • Federal officials allege a multi-billion dollar fraud involving daycare centers in Minnesota.
  • Independent journalist Nick Shirley documented suspicious centers: some misspelled their own names and displayed signs of inactivity (e.g., no children present, blacked-out windows).
  • A viral video has amplified scrutiny; local authorities stress accountability.
  • Governor Tim Walz issued a strong warning:

    "Anybody involved will go to prison." (Debra Valentine citing Tim Walz, [01:52])

4. Economic Outlook & 2026 Midterms

• [02:32–03:15]
  • President Trump claims progress reducing inflation and energy prices, contrasting his administration’s actions with Biden’s.
  • Trump to Politico:

    “I think it’s going to be about the success of our country. It’ll be about pricing. They gave us high pricing and we’re bringing it down. Energy’s way down. Gasoline is way down.” (Reported by Madeleine Rivera, [02:42])

  • White House is encouraged by positive economic indicators: 4.3% economic growth in Q3 (driven by consumer spending, exports, and government spending).
  • Despite growth, Fox News Poll reports 72% of registered voters have a negative view of the economy.

5. Severe Winter Weather Affects Holiday Travel

• [03:15–04:06]
  • Another winter storm is impacting the Midwest and Northeast, with particular trouble in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
  • Meteorologist Adam Klotz forecasts blizzard warnings, heavy snow (up to one foot in places), strong winds, travel disruptions, and limited visibility.
  • The storm’s leading edge will bring rain; heavy snow and dangerous conditions expected as it moves east.

  • “Blizzard warnings, heavy snow, strong winds. That’s going to lower visibility, make driving really tough.” (Adam Klotz, [03:31])

6. Death of Brigitte Bardot

• [04:06–04:25]
  • French film star Brigitte Bardot passed away at 91, remembered for her role in And God Created Woman (1956).
  • Tribute segment aired with a notable Bardot quote:

    “I have to live as if every day were my last one. There’s something powerful in me that makes me behave foolishly.” (Brigitte Bardot, [04:17])

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Notable Quotes

• President Donald Trump (on Ukraine):

  "You can say 95%, but I don't like to say percentages. I just think we're doing very well. We're very, we could be very close." ([00:19])

• President Trump (on economy):

  "They gave us high pricing and we're bringing it down. Energy's way down. Gasoline is way down." (paraphrased by Madeleine Rivera, [02:42])

• Governor Tim Walz (on Minnesota fraud):

  "Anybody involved will go to prison." (as cited by Debra Valentine, [01:52])

• Adam Klotz (on blizzard warnings):

  “Blizzard warnings, heavy snow, strong winds. That’s going to lower visibility, make driving really tough.” ([03:31])

• Brigitte Bardot (tribute):

  “I have to live as if every day were my last one. There’s something powerful in me that makes me behave foolishly.” ([04:17])

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Timestamps for Segments

• Ukraine peace talks: [00:03–00:41]
• NJ helicopter collision: [00:54–01:17]
• Minnesota fraud probe: [01:17–01:52]
• Economy and midterm focus: [02:32–03:15]
• Winter weather update: [03:31–04:06]
• Brigitte Bardot’s death: [04:06–04:25]

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Overall Tone & Delivery

The episode maintains Fox News’s brisk, fact-forward news delivery, with correspondents providing concise summaries, authoritative attributions, and intermittent direct sourcing of quoted figures. The language is measured, direct, and consistent with the network’s urgent update style.

Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

Nearing peace. I'm Debra Valentine, Fox News. The presidents of the US And Ukraine reported significant steps towards an end to.

[Grnau Scott]

The war with Russia standing with Volodymyr Zelensky at Mar A Lago. President Trump said there's been progress but did not commit to how much?

[President Donald Trump]

You can say 95%, but I don't like to say percentages. I just think we're doing very well. We're very, we could be very close.

[Grnau Scott]

President Zelensky added, they're close on security guarantees with the US and and Europe and how Ukraine will benefit down the road.

[President Donald Trump]

Prosperity plan being finalized. And we also discussed the sequencing of the following actions.

[Grnau Scott]

What comes next? More talks perhaps into January and possibly with Russia over who keeps land and how an end to the fighting will eventually happen. Grnau Scott, FOX NEWS.

[Debra Valentine]

One pilot was killed, the other left critically hurt after two helicopters collided midair around noontime today. It happened not far from the Hamilton Airport in southern New Jersey. The FAA and the NTSB are investigating. Scrutiny is growing around an alleged fraud scheme from Minnesota as federal officials claim billions have been stolen. Fox's Connor Hanson reports.

[President Donald Trump]

For years now, there have been allegations of widespread fraud and investigations in Minnesota. But now there's even more scrutiny following a new video that's gone viral coming from an independent journalist visiting daycare centers in the state that are receiving millions apparently in tax dollars. With no signs of children there, 23 year old journalist Nick Shirley visited one business that couldn't even spell its name correctly with a sign saying leering center. Instead of learning some had blacked out windows and most had no signs of children there on a weekday.

[Debra Valentine]

Democratic Governor Tim Waltz says anybody involved will go to prison. America's listening to FOX News.

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[Debra Valentine]

All eyes are on the economy and President Trump is predicting the 2026 midterm elections will focus on pricing. Fox's Madeleine Rivera has more from Washington.

[Madeleine Rivera]

President Trump's message heading into next year is that they're fixing the inflation they inherited under the Biden administration and that Americans will start to feel their economic policies. The president saying, I think it's going to be about the success of our country. It'll be about pricing. They gave us high pricing and we're bringing it down. Energy's way down. Gasoline is way down. That's what he said to Politico. The White House is feeling a boost after some positive economic indicators. The US economy grew at a rate of 4.3% in the third quarter of the year, driven mainly by consumer spending, exports and government spending.

[Debra Valentine]

A FOX News poll from earlier this month, however, finds that 72% of those surveyed, registered voters, viewed the economy negatively. Travel in between the Christmas and New Year's holidays is being snarled by more wintry weather. Fox's meteorologist Adam Klotz has more.

[Adam Klotz]

We have another round of winter weather. So we saw the one that passed through across the Northeast, another one developing across portions of the upper Midwest. Blizzard warnings, heavy snow, strong winds. That's going to lower visibility, make driving really tough. Going to slow down plane travel as well, particularly across that region. As you're looking at least some delays across all of the upper Midwest. As we watch this system march from the Northern Plains, ultimately running up to the Northeast. The leading edge of this being all rain, it's the backside that is snow you're talking about maybe a foot of snow falling that's going to cause that blizzard. With all the wind drifting could be a real issue. Now as you watch the system continue to progress off towards the east, that leading edge is going to be mostly rain.

[Debra Valentine]

Blizzard warnings for Minnesota and Wisconsin. French film star Brigitte Bardot has died at home in the south of France at the age of 91 as she rose to fame in the 1956 movie and God Created Woman.

[Commercial Announcer]

I have to live as if every day were my last one. There's something powerful in me that makes me behave foolishly.

[Debra Valentine]

I'm Debra Valentine. This is FOX News.

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