1AM ET 12/21/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update — 1AM ET 12/21/2025

Host: Chris DiMaio
Date: December 21, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise roundup of major national and international news stories from the early hours of December 21, 2025. Key topics include U.S. retaliatory strikes on ISIS, domestic political controversy over renaming the Kennedy Center, evolving international relations, a mass shooting in South Africa, escalating tensions in Venezuela, new Australian speech laws post-terror attack, and a Powerball lottery update.

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Key News Segments & Insights

U.S. Strikes ISIS Targets in Syria

• [00:03-00:47]
  • The U.S. carried out strikes on over 70 ISIS targets in Syria, following an ambush on U.S. service members in Palmyra.
  • President followed through on a pledge of retaliation.
  • Dignified transfer for the fallen: Sgt. Edgar Torres Tovar, Sgt. William Nate Howard, and their interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat took place at Dover Air Force Base.
  • The President of Operation Hawkeye and Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, emphasized the nature of the response:

    “This is not the beginning of a war. It is a declaration of vengeance.”
    — Pete Hegseth [00:40]

  • Jordan participated in the strikes; casualty numbers were not released.

Kennedy Center Name Controversy and Protest

• [00:47-01:31]
  • Protesters gathered outside the Kennedy Center in D.C. to oppose its proposed renaming to include Donald J. Trump alongside John F. Kennedy.
  • Advocacy group "Hands off the Arts" resists perceived government censorship.
  • Democratic Senator Chris Van Holland critiqued the president during the protest:

    “We've got a president who doesn't respect the arts. All he respects is cash from his donors and billionaire buddies. He's in office to enrich himself and his family and the billionaires who were standing behind him when he was sworn in on Inauguration Day.”
    — Sen. Chris Van Holland [01:12]

  • Board of trustees appointed by Trump voted for the name change; Democrats argue only Congress holds that authority.
  • President Trump reportedly felt “honored and surprised.”

U.S.-Russia Peace Talks on Ukraine

• [01:31-01:47]
  • Officials from the U.S. and Russia convened in Florida regarding a peace plan for the Russia-Ukraine war.
  • Russia described talks as “constructive.”

Mass Shooting in South Africa

• [01:47-01:59]
  • Reuters reported over 10 fatalities in a mass shooting in Johannesburg.

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Rising Tensions: U.S. Military Pressure on Venezuela

• [02:58-03:40]
  • U.S. Coast Guard and military seized a second oil tanker in international waters.
  • Venezuela’s government claims the vessel was private, labeling U.S. actions as “theft and kidnapping.”
  • This follows a total blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers to and from Venezuela, ordered by President Trump.
  • Trump designates Nicolás Maduro's government a foreign terrorist organization and considers strikes on Venezuelan drug operations.

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Australia’s Response to Deadly Hanukkah Attack

• [03:50-04:25]
  • Following an attack at Bondi Beach that left 15 dead, Australia plans new restrictions:
    • Banning hate speech and demonstrations legitimizing violence, specifically targeting the phrase “globalize the intifada.”
    • Prohibiting hate symbols and flags, including those of Hamas and the Nazi Party.
    • Gun control measures include a “massive voluntary buyback” of weapons destined for destruction.
  • Report from Steve Harrigan highlighted the government’s urgency in enacting reforms.

Recognition and Lottery News

• [04:25-04:58]
  • Ahmed Al Ahmed hailed as the hero of the Bondi Beach shooting; awarded over $1.5 million.
  • The Powerball jackpot rolled over to $1.6 billion after no winner, with eight $1 million Match 5 winners.

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Notable Quotes

• Pete Hegseth on U.S. strikes in Syria:

  “This is not the beginning of a war. It is a declaration of vengeance.” [00:40]

• Sen. Chris Van Holland on Kennedy Center protest:

  “We've got a president who doesn't respect the arts. All he respects is cash from his donors and billionaire buddies.” [01:12]

• Chanley Painter on U.S.-Venezuela conflict escalation:

  “Venezuela's government claims it was a private ship and calls the US Actions theft and kidnapping.” [03:19]

• Steve Harrigan on Australia’s planned laws:

  “Lawmakers here say they're going to outlaw the phrase globalize the intifada, which means for many trying to legitimize violent attacks against Jews.” [03:55]

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Segment Timestamps

• U.S. Strikes ISIS Targets: 00:03–00:47
• Kennedy Center Protest & Name Change: 00:47–01:31
• U.S.-Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks: 01:31–01:47
• South Africa Mass Shooting: 01:47–01:59
• Venezuela Oil Tanker Tensions: 02:58–03:40
• Australian Hate Speech & Gun Laws: 03:50–04:25
• Recognition & Powerball Update: 04:25–04:58

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Style & Tone

The episode maintains FOX News’ urgent, fact-focused reporting style, with direct quotes from officials and on-the-ground correspondents. The tone is serious and brisk, reflecting the rapid update format.

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This summary provides a comprehensive snapshot of key news events covered in the 1AM ET newscast on December 21, 2025, capturing the main issues, pivotal quotes, and the overall tone for listeners who missed the episode.

Transcript

[Chris DiMaio]

US Revenge. I'm Chris DiMaio, Fox News. The US striking more than 70 ISIS targets in Syria. Fox's Madeline Rivera reports from Washington.

[Madeline Rivera]

The president following through on a pledge to strike the terrorist group after the ambush attack on service members in Palmyra. The two Iowa National Guard members, 25 year old Sergeant Edgar Torres Tovar of Des Moines and 29 year old Sergeant William Nate Howard of Marshalltown and their civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat of Michigan, returned home in a dignified transfer Wednesday at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware where they were met by the president of Operation Hawkeye. Strike Secretary of War Pete Hegseth says this is not the beginning of a war. It is a declaration of vengeance.

[Chris DiMaio]

The US Military didn't say how many had been killed in Friday's strikes. Jordan confirmed earlier today that its air force took part in the attack. A protest on Saturday outside the Kennedy arts Center in D.C. a group opposing government censorship, Hands off the Arts is upset over plans to rename the building the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy center for the Performing Arts. Democratic Senator Chris Van Holland, one of the demonstrators.

[Chris Van Holland]

We've got a lot of work to do. We've got a president who doesn't respect the arts. All he respects is cash from his donors and billionaire buddies. He's in office to enrich himself and his family and the billionaires who were standing behind him when he was sworn in on Inauguration Day.

[Chris DiMaio]

The Trump appointed board of trustees voted Thursday to add Trump to the art center's name. Democrats only say Congress can only make that change. The president says he was honored and surprised by the move. U.S. and Russian officials meet in Florida for talks on a peace plan to end the war with Russia and Ukraine. Russia says the talks were constructive. Reuters reports more than 10 people killed in a mass shooting in Johannesburg, South Africa. America is listening to Fox News.

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[Chris DiMaio]

SimpliSafe. US military activity around Venezuela is ramping.

[Chanley Painter]

Up. The US is putting new pressure on Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro after the US Coast Guard and military seized a second oil tanker in international waters. Venezuela's government claims it was a private ship and calls the US Actions theft and kidnapping. This latest seizure comes days after President Trump ordered a total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. The President has also designated the Maduro led government a foreign terrorist organization. President Trump is also weighing carrying out land strikes against drug operations inside.

[Chris DiMaio]

Venezuela. Fox's Chanley Painter Australia getting tough on certain speech after last week's deadly Hanukkah celebration attack at Bondi beach, we.

[Steve Harrigan]

Are going to see likely some new restrictions both on hate speech and on demonstrations here in Australia in the wake of Sunday's attack that left 15 dead. Lawmakers here say they're going to outlaw the phrase globalize the intifada, which means for many trying to legitimize violent attacks against Jews. They're trying to also outlaw hate symbols, flags from parties like Hamas and the Nazi Party as well. The government is also planning new restrictions on gun ownership. They're planning a massive voluntary buyback of hundreds of thousands of weapons to then melt them down, get them off the.

[Chris DiMaio]

Street. Fox's Steve Harrigan Ahmed Al Ahmed, the hero of the mass shooting, received a check for more than a million and a half dollars for his bravery. Nobody won the Powerball jackpot in Saturday night's drawing, so it increases to $1.6 billion with a cash prize of $735.3 million the next drawing Monday. It's now the fifth largest lottery jackpot in history and the fourth largest Powerball jackpot ever. There were eight $1 million Match 5 winners in the drawing. I'm Chris, this is.

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