12AM ET 12/12/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 12AM ET 12/12/2025 Newscast

Episode Overview

This episode of the Fox News Hourly Update covers major national and international news stories, including court updates on the alleged killer of Charlie Kirk, political debates over health care legislation as Obamacare subsidies approach expiration, immigration developments, progress and setbacks in Ukraine-Russia peace talks, flooding in the Northwest, and a major earthquake in Japan.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Legal Proceedings: The Charlie Kirk Case

• [00:03] – [01:08]
• Sue Guzman reports on the first in-person court appearance of Tyler Robinson, the accused killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
• Matt Finn (Outside the Provo Courthouse) clarifies the current legal proceedings:
  • Ongoing debates on issues from a private October hearing; those transcripts remain sealed.
  • Media attorneys are pushing for these transcripts to be unsealed, possibly due to matters of safety and trial fairness.
  • The scope of a gag order is under dispute, with prosecutors seeking clarification on whom it affects.
  • Motions to dismiss have been filed but remain confidential, possibly involving some attorneys.
• Notable Quote:
  • Matt Finn: “There are transcripts from private October hearing in this case… Those transcripts were sealed. Well then an attorney for the media intervened and asked that those transcripts be unsealed so we may find out what was discussed.” [00:26]

2. Health Care Showdown in the Senate

• [01:08] – [01:52]
• Senate debates dueling health care plans as the expiration of Obamacare subsidies looms. Neither bill earns the needed 60 votes to move forward.
• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticizes Republicans for potentially raising health care premiums during the holidays:
  • Quote: “How can Republicans look themselves in the mirror knowing they have to go back home and tell people over the holidays I voted to send your premiums up?” [01:22]
• White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt fires back at Democrats:
  • Democrats are blamed for passing Obamacare and expanding it with “expensive Covid subsidies” that “completely distorted the health insurance market.”
  • Quote: “Democrats wrote Obamacare… ballooned it with these expensive Covid subsidies… doubled down, extending those subsidies and setting their own expiration date.” [01:35]
• Republicans are currently proposing to deposit funds into health savings accounts for eligible Americans.

3. Immigration Update: Elmo Rogano Garcia

• [02:32] – [03:01]
• Sue Guzman reports that Elmo Rogano Garcia is released from immigration detention by court order. He plans to return to Maryland with his American family.
• The Trump administration alleges he is a gang member and faces human trafficking charges.

4. Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks & War Update

• [03:01] – [03:40]
• Granal Scott recaps the stalled peace process between Ukraine and Russia. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt comments on President’s mounting frustration:
  • Quote: “He is sick of meetings just for the sake of meeting. He doesn’t want any more talk. He wants action.” [03:13]
  • The President will only send a U.S. delegate if meetings are deemed worthwhile.
  • Quote: “If we feel like those meetings are worthy of someone on the United States time this weekend, then we will send a representative.” [03:23]
• Russia claims battlefield advances, while Ukrainian drones reportedly hit a Russian oil rig in the Caspian Sea.

5. Additional Headlines

• Grand Jury News:
  • The grand jury once again refuses to indict NY Attorney General Letitia James on DOJ mortgage fraud charges. [03:40]
• Northwest Flooding:
  • Western Washington experiences significant flooding due to an atmospheric river. Several rivers crested; evacuations underway.
  • Orting Mayor Joshua Penner updates:
    • “We have an evacuation center if folks need a place to stay warm if they get displaced from their home… We’ll flex our staff and our partner resources.” [04:00]
• Japan Earthquake:
  • A magnitude 6.7 earthquake hits northern Japan, launching a tsunami warning. No reported injuries or damage so far.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Matt Finn on Charlie Kirk case:
  “There are transcripts from private October hearing… Those transcripts were sealed… an attorney for the media intervened and asked that those transcripts be unsealed…” [00:26]

• Sen. Chuck Schumer, Senate health bill disappointment:
  “How can Republicans look themselves in the mirror knowing they have to go back home and tell people over the holidays I voted to send your premiums up?” [01:22]

• Caroline Levitt, White House Press Secretary, health care response:
  “Democrats wrote Obamacare… ballooned it with these expensive Covid subsidies… doubled down…” [01:35]

• Caroline Levitt, on Ukraine peace talks:
  “He is sick of meetings just for the sake of meeting. He doesn’t want any more talk. He wants action.” [03:13]

• Joshua Penner, Orting mayor, on Washington flooding:
  “We have an evacuation center if folks need a place to stay warm if they get displaced from their home… We’ll flex our staff…” [04:00]

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Important Timestamps

• [00:03] – Tyler Robinson appears in court for the Charlie Kirk murder case.
• [00:26] – Matt Finn details ongoing legal issues surrounding the case.
• [01:08] – Senate rejects competing health care bills.
• [01:22] – Schumer and Levitt exchange criticism over health care.
• [02:32] – Elmo Rogano Garcia released from detention; controversy continues.
• [03:01] – Update on Ukraine-Russia peace talks.
• [03:40] – Grand jury refuses indictment against AG Letitia James.
• [04:00] – Flooding in Western Washington, Mayor Penner comments.
• [04:10] – Emergency evacuations in Northwest due to flooding.
• [04:27] – Earthquake hits northern Japan, tsunami warning issued.

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Conclusion

This Fox News Hourly Update episode delivers concise and timely coverage of breaking national and international news, focusing on judicial proceedings in a high-profile murder case, political gridlock over health care, contentious immigration issues, the ongoing war in Ukraine, environmental crises in the U.S. and Japan, and more. With a brisk pace and sharp exchanges, it captures the urgency and complexity of current events.

Transcript

[Sue Guzman]

A date in court for the accused killer of Charlie Kirk. I'm Sue Guzman, Fox News. Tyler Robinson, the 22 year old accused assassin of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk making his first in person court appearance Thursday, three months after the Turning Point USA founder was fatally shot at Utah Valley University. Fox's Matt Finn is outside the courthouse in Provo.

[Matt Finn]

There are some ongoing arguments about some key issues that are on the agenda. There are transcripts from private October hearing in this case that took place between the judge, the defense and the prosecution. Those transcripts were sealed. Well then an attorney for the media intervene and asked that those transcripts be unsealed so we may find out what was discussed. My understanding is it was a matter of safety and also trial fairness. Also, there's a gag order in place. The prosecution is asking that the judge clarify exactly who that gag order applies to. There were a couple of motions to dismiss filed and that's pretty critical here. They remain private so we can't read what they are, but they could apply to some attorneys.

[Sue Guzman]

And prosecutors have charged Robinson with aggravated murder. Senate rejecting dueling health care plans just weeks before the Obamacare subsidies expire. Neither bill achieving the six vote threshold needed to advance Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

[Chuck Schumer]

How can Republicans look themselves in the mirror knowing they have to go back home and tell people over the holidays I voted to send your premiums up? Republicans are going to say and White.

[Sue Guzman]

House press Secretary Caroline Levitt responding.

[Caroline Levitt]

Democrats wrote Obamacare. They passed it without a single Republican vote and then they ballooned it with these expensive Covid subsidies that completely distorted the health insurance market and then they doubled down, extending those subsidies and setting their own expiration date.

[Sue Guzman]

Right now in 2025, Republicans want to deposit money in health savings accounts for those eligible. America is listening to FOX News.

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[Sue Guzman]

Elmo Rogano Garcia has been released from an immigration detention center in Pennsylvania following an order from a federal judge today. Brago's Garcia's attorney saying he plans to return to Maryland where he has an American wife and child, where he has lived for years after crossing the border illegally. The Trump administration says Abrego is a gang member and is facing federal human trafficking charges. The White House indicates that talks to end the Russia, Ukraine war are ongoing, but not to the president's liking at the moment.

[Granal Scott]

White House press Secretary Caroline Levitt said envoy Steve Witkoff continues to talk with both sides as a means to the end of the war. But as she put it, the president is frustrated with a stalled process.

[Caroline Levitt]

He is sick of meetings just for the sake of meeting. He doesn't want any more talk. He wants action.

[Granal Scott]

And if there is any movement toward peace, levitt said the president is ready to react.

[Caroline Levitt]

If we feel like those meetings are worthy of someone on the United States time this weekend, then we will send a representative.

[Granal Scott]

In the meantime, Russia claims advances on the battlefield as Ukraine's drones have hit a Russian oil rig in the Caspian Sea. Granal Scott, FOX News.

[Sue Guzman]

The grand jury has once again refused to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James. The Justice Department has attempted to bring charges related to mortgage fraud allegations. In Virginia, Western Washington seeing major flooding as an atmospheric river dumped heavy rain across the region, causing several rivers to crest. Mayor of Orting, Joshua Penner.

[Joshua Penner]

We have an evacuation center if folks need a place to stay warm if they get displaced from their home. You know, if the situation elevates, we'll flex our staff and our partner resources.

[Sue Guzman]

Flooding triggered some orders to evacuate immediately in several counties. And Japan has been hit by yet another earthquake, this one 6.7 magnitude, in the northern part of the country. It did prompt a tsunami warning and so far there's no word on damage or injuries.

[Sue Gosway]

I'm Sue Gosway.

[Ainsley Earhart]

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

[Podcast Narrator]

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.