1AM ET 12/18/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 1AM ET Newscast

Date: December 18, 2025
Host: Chris DiMaio (with reports from Gernall Scott, Jessica Rosenthal, Jonathan Hunt, and Ainsley Earhart)
Podcast: Fox News Hourly Update

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers concise coverage of national headlines including President Trump’s address on the U.S. economy and jobs, a tragic military repatriation at Dover Air Force Base, updates on an ongoing shooting investigation at Brown University, courtroom developments in a high-profile Los Angeles murder case, findings from a deadly DC aviation crash, and a notable FBI resignation. Each segment features primary FOX correspondents, with direct reporting and statements from newsmakers.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump’s National Address: Focus on Jobs and Economic Recovery

• [00:01–00:36]

  • President Trump addressed the nation emphasizing his administration’s success in job restoration, particularly in bringing jobs back to the U.S.
  • He cited a record-breaking $18 trillion in investment secured, attributing it to increased jobs, wage growth, factory openings, and enhanced national security.
  • Notably stressed these are private sector jobs, not government positions.

  Quote:

  • President Trump (via Jessica Rosenthal):

    "Already I've secured a record breaking $18 trillion of investment into the United States, which means jobs, wage increases, factory openings and far greater national security." (00:22)

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2. Dover Air Force Base: Honoring Fallen Soldiers

• [00:48–01:14]
  • President Trump met grieving families at Dover Air Force Base as the remains of two Iowa National Guard members, Sergeant Edgar Torres Tovar and Sergeant William Howard, returned home after being killed in Syria.
  • The ceremony also honored a U.S. civilian translator who perished in the same attack.

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3. Brown University Shooting Investigation

• [01:14–01:52]

  • Providence Police released new images of a second individual possibly connected to the deadly weekend shooting at Brown University.
  • The public is being asked for help identifying this person, captured near the primary person of interest.
  • Investigators shared that the best available video shows a 5’8” stocky individual seen in the area hours prior to the shooting.

  Quote:

  • Jessica Rosenthal:

    "They're hoping someone out there will recognize the way that he walks and carries his weight. Investigators say the video released is the best video they have of this person." (01:30)

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4. Murder Case Update: Nick Reiner’s First Court Appearance

• [02:58–03:40]

  • Nick Reiner appeared briefly in a Los Angeles court, accused of murdering his parents Rob and Michelle Reiner.
  • His formal arraignment was postponed until January 7th at his attorney's request.
  • Reiner was seen in a suicide prevention smock and shackles, speaking only in response to the judge regarding the delay.

  Quote:

  • Jonathan Hunt:

    "He was brought into court wearing a suicide prevention smock. He sat there shackled as well. He only spoke once when the judge addressed him about the delay..." (03:20)

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5. DC Air Crash – Justice Department Findings

• [03:40–04:36]

  • The Justice Department concluded that the Army flight crew of a Black Hawk helicopter was negligent in its fatal January crash into an American Airlines jet, which killed all aboard both aircraft.
  • Failures included improper separation in the airspace and non-use of an ADS-B transponder, which would have communicated their position.
  • Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell passed legislation mandating such transponders on most military helicopters after a previous exemption.

  Quote:

  • Jessica Rosenthal:

    "But another critical issue was the Blackhawks and ADS B transponder. It was off and not communicating its position." (04:15)

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6. FBI Leadership Change: Bongino Resigns

• [04:36–04:56]

  • FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced his resignation, ending a contentious but brief tenure marked by clashes with the Justice Department over the handling of sensitive Jeffrey Epstein files.
  • President Trump publicly praised Bongino and speculated a possible return to television for the former agent.

  Quote:

  • Chris DiMaio:

    "This ends a brief tenure in which he clashed with the Justice Department over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files." (04:40)

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Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• President Trump (read by Jessica Rosenthal):

  "Already I've secured a record breaking $18 trillion of investment into the United States, which means jobs, wage increases, factory openings and far greater national security." (00:22)

• Jessica Rosenthal:

  "They're hoping someone out there will recognize the way that he walks and carries his weight. Investigators say the video released is the best video they have of this person." (01:30)

• Jonathan Hunt:

  "He was brought into court wearing a suicide prevention smock. He sat there shackled as well. He only spoke once when the judge addressed him about the delay..." (03:20)

• Jessica Rosenthal:

  "But another critical issue was the Blackhawks and ADS B transponder. It was off and not communicating its position." (04:15)

• Chris DiMaio:

  "This ends a brief tenure in which he clashed with the Justice Department over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files." (04:40)

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:01] President Trump addresses the nation – jobs/economic update
• [00:48] Ceremony for fallen service members at Dover Air Force Base
• [01:14] Brown University shooting investigation update
• [02:58] LA murder case: Nick Reiner’s court appearance
• [03:40] Justice Dept. on DC air crash; new legislation explained
• [04:36] FBI Deputy Director Bongino resigns

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Tone and Takeaways

The episode maintains a straightforward, reportorial tone, emphasizing serious national and local events, with succinct delivery of facts and quotes from primary figures. The focus remains on objective news coverage, suitable for listeners seeking an unbiased, high-level briefing of the day’s most pressing issues.

Transcript

[Chris DiMaio]

The president addresses the Nation. I'm Chris DiMaio, Fox News. President Trump in his Wednesday address to the nation, says jobs are coming back to America and his policies are driving that.

[Gernall Scott]

President Trump said from the start of his second term jobs that left the US Would come back. His claim is now that more people are working in America than at any point in history.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

Already I've secured a record breaking $18 trillion of investment into the United States, which means jobs, wage increases, factory openings and far greater national security.

[Gernall Scott]

The president said those aren't government jobs. They are private sector jobs. He promised that trend will continue as the second year of his second term begins. Gernall Scott, FOX News.

[Chris DiMaio]

Meantime, the president huddled with grieving families at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. The remains of two Iowa National Guard members arriving back in the U.S. sergeant Edgar Torres Tovar and Sergeant William Howard were killed during an attack in Syria. The body of a US Civilian translator who was also killed was part of the ceremony. Investigators continue to release images related to the deadly shooting at Brown University over the weekend.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

Providence police releasing new images of a second person. They said investigators are asking for the public's help in identifying and speaking to the individual shown in these photos who was in proximity of the person of interest. Now these new images come a day after the Providence police released new enhanced video of the primary person of interest. We've been talking about 5 foot 8 with a stocky build walking around the nearby neighborhood as early as 10:30am five and a half hours before the shooting. They're hoping someone out there will recognize the way that he walks and carries his weight. Investigators say the video released is the best video they have of this person.

[Chris DiMaio]

Fox's Brian Yanes in Rhode Island, America's listening to Fox News.

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[Chris DiMaio]

SimpliSafe. Nick Reiner appeared in court today. He's accused of murdering his parents, Rob and Michelle Reiner, in their Los Angeles home on Sunday.

[Jonathan Hunt]

Night. It was a very brief court appearance for Nick Reiner and his formal arraignment ultimately delayed until January 7th at his own attorney's request. But it was the first, first time we have seen Nick Reiner since he was arrested on Sunday. He was brought into court wearing a suicide prevention smock. He sat there shackled as well. He only spoke once when the judge addressed him about the delay in the.

[Chris DiMaio]

Arraignment. That's fox's Jonathan Hunt in Los Angeles. The Justice Department has concluded the army flight crew on board the Black Hawk that crashed into an American Airlines jet in D.C. was negligent. Here's Fox's Jessica.

[Ainsley Earhart]

Rosenthal. In late January, an Army Black Hawk helicopter with three army soldiers on board crashed into an American airlines jet with 64 people on board. Everyone was killed. After several NTSB hearings earlier this year, the Justice Department now says the army crew was negligent due to a failure to separate aircraft in airspace and issue safety alerts when the aircraft got too close. But another critical issue was the Blackhawks and ADS B transponder. It was off and not communicating its position. A provision in the National Defense Authorization act would continue to allow an exemption from military helicopters. But Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell fast tracked separate legislation that did pass the Senate mandating the use of such transponders in most cases. JESSICA rosenthal, FOX NEWS the number.

[Chris DiMaio]

Two man at the FBI, Deputy Director Dan Bongino, announcing today that he'll be leaving the bureau next month. This ends a brief tenure in which he clashed with the Justice Department over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. President Trump praised the work of Bongino while speculating he may want to return to the TV show that he hosted. I'm Chris DiMeo. This is Fox.

[Ainsley Earhart]

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

[Chris DiMaio]

Of 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.