Fox News Hourly Update – 1AM ET 12/19/2025 Newscast

Date: December 19, 2025
Host: Ted Lindner (FOX News Podcasts)
Episode Theme:
This episode delivers a comprehensive roundup of the top news stories in the U.S., focusing on the conclusion of a high-profile manhunt, a fatal plane crash involving a NASCAR celebrity, legal verdicts, public sentiment on AI, a major center’s renaming in honor of former President Trump, and an update on the Powerball jackpot.

Main Stories and Key Discussion Points

1. Manhunt for Brown University Shooter Ends

[00:02]

• Host Ted Lindner reports that the "manhunt is over" for the Brown University shooter. Authorities traced the suspect's abandoned car to a storage unit in Salem, NH, where they found the shooter, 48-year-old Claudio Neves Valenti, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
• The shooter was also responsible for the fatal shooting of MIT Professor Nuno Lurero earlier in the week.
• Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Narona comments on the aftermath for the victims’ families, saying:

  "It is unimaginable the pain that the parents and families of the deceased are feeling tonight and will feel undoubtedly for quite a while. But I hope that by bringing this person to justice that we can at least give them the beginnings of some measure of closure."
  (Peter Narona, 00:20)

2. Plane Crash Kills Retired NASCAR Driver Greg Biffle and Family

[00:41–01:42]

• Kristin Goodwin reports on a fatal business jet crash near Statesville Regional Airport, NC, killing seven on board.
• Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife Christina, and their two children were believed to be aboard, though a definitive list is not available due to a post-crash fire.
• The plane was linked to Biffle’s company, and NASCAR released a statement:

  "Greg [was] a fierce competitor who gave of himself for the betterment of our community."
  (NASCAR statement, related by Kristin Goodwin, 01:21)

3. Wisconsin Judge Found Guilty of Obstruction

[01:42]

• A jury has found Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan guilty of obstructing federal authorities in a case involving a Mexican immigrant, specifically on a misdemeanor charge of obstruction of felony in April.

4. U.S. Voters Want Caution on AI Development

[02:58–03:50]

• Jessica Rosenthal highlights a new FOX poll:
  • 80% of surveyed voters want slow, careful AI development.
  • 19% advocate a fast pace to stay ahead of China.
  • Women, Democrats, and younger/older voters prefer caution; men and Republicans want quicker progress.
  • Regulating AI: Split opinions among the tech industry, state governments, and Congress—only 11% favor the President overseeing AI.
  • 48% report using AI monthly, up 6 points in six months; top uses include research, answering questions, work, and grammar/spelling tasks.

5. Kennedy Center Renamed to Honor President Trump

[03:50–04:29]

• Board of trustees, all appointed by President Trump, voted unanimously to rename it the "Trump Kennedy Center."
• President Trump, expressing honor, states:

  "We're saving the building. We saved the building. The building was in such bad shape, both physically, financially and every other way. And now it's very solid, very strong."
  (President Trump, 04:08)

• Trump recently attended a performance and emceed the Kennedy Center Honors.

6. Powerball Jackpot Update

[04:29]

• The Powerball jackpot rises to $1.5 billion, the fifth largest in lottery history.
• The last winning ticket for all six numbers was not drawn; prior significant jackpot amounts are cited, including the record $2.04 billion in 2022.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rhode Island AG Peter Narona on closure for victims’ families:

  "It is unimaginable the pain that the parents and families of the deceased are feeling tonight...but I hope that...we can at least give them the beginnings of some measure of closure." (00:20)

• NASCAR’s statement on Greg Biffle:

  "Greg [was] a fierce competitor who gave of himself for the betterment of our community." (01:21)

• President Donald Trump on the Kennedy Center renaming:

  "We're saving the building. We saved the building...the building was in such bad shape...now it's very solid, very strong." (04:08)

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Time | Segment Description | |----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:02 | Manhunt ends for Brown University shooter | | 00:20 | Peter Narona on closure for families | | 00:41 | MIT Professor Nuno Lurero shooting; transition to plane crash report | | 00:57 | Kristin Goodwin - Biffle plane crash details, NASCAR statement | | 01:42 | Wisconsin judge found guilty of obstruction | | 02:58 | Public attitudes on AI development and polling | | 03:50 | Kennedy Center renamed for President Trump | | 04:08 | Trump statement on the Center's revival | | 04:29 | Powerball jackpot update |

Tone and Style

The episode maintains a factual, concise news broadcast style—highly structured, authoritative, and empathetic during coverage of tragedies. All speakers present updates clearly, with officials and organizations quoted directly for gravity and context.

This summary covers the episode’s news content for listeners who want the key stories, quotes, and the timing of each segment, skipping sponsor messages, intros, and outros.