1AM ET 12/25/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 1AM ET 12/25/2025 Newscast

Date: December 25, 2025
Host: Debra Valentine, Fox News Team

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Episode Overview

This edition of the Fox News Hourly Update provides a Christmas Eve snapshot of global headlines, focusing on Pope Leo XIV’s first Christmas Mass, political updates in Honduras, a special message to US troops from President Trump, record-breaking holiday travel amid severe weather, emergency conditions in California due to storms, and a Powerball jackpot win. The tone is brisk and concise, in keeping with hourly newscasts.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Pope Leo XIV Celebrates First Christmas Mass

[00:03–00:46]

• Historic Moment: Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, leads his inaugural Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican, mere months after the passing of Pope Francis.
• Message to the Faithful: The Pope emphasizes compassion for the poor, the marginalized, and immigrants—recurring themes in his early papacy.
• Quote:
  • “In the face of the suffering of the poor, God sends one who is defenseless to be the strength to rise again.”
    — Pope Leo XIV, as recounted by Tom Rigotti [00:27]
• Notable Point: Attention is given to the Pope’s roots and his focus on social justice.

Honduras Presidential Election Results

[00:46–01:25]

• Outcome: Nasri Asfura, a conservative candidate backed by President Donald Trump, officially wins the Honduran presidential election after a prolonged vote count.
• Significance: This win is framed as a rejection of the previous leftist administration.
• US Reaction: Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarks on prospects for closer cooperation.
• Regional Trend: Asfura’s victory comes soon after Chile elected a right-wing challenger.
• Quote:
  • “Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the Trump administration looks forward to working with Asfura to advance prosperity and security in our hemisphere.”
    — Jared Halpern [01:05]

President Trump’s Christmas Message to Troops

[01:25–01:47]

• Event: President Donald Trump places calls to US military members from Mar-a-Lago, emphasizing a unique “warrior dividend” benefit.
• Details:
  • “Last week was 1775. And I said, you know, if you had $1, it's 1776. And everyone said, well, we never thought of it, but that one dollar is pretty cool.”
    — Will William Lajeunesse quoting Trump [01:36]
• Impact: 1.5 million service members are eligible. Funding comes from the “one big beautiful bill.”

Holiday Travel Chaos as Severe Weather Hits

[02:59–03:47]

• Travel Record: An estimated 122 million Americans are traveling this holiday season, mostly by car, but also by train and plane.
• Weather Disruptions:
  • West Coast: Nearly 40 million under flood watch due to storms.
  • East Coast: 30 million facing winter weather alerts in Northeast and New England.
  • Air Travel: Over 3,200 delays and 130 flight cancellations, with December 28th forecast as the busiest day.
• Quote:
  • “The holiday joy is in the air here, but some major storms from coast to coast causing delays and cancellations.”
    — Brooke Teller [03:12]

Southern California Storm Emergency

[03:47–04:36]

• Conditions: State of emergency declared in several California counties—heavy rain, flooding, and evacuation orders in place.
• Impacts:
  • San Bernardino County faces fast-moving floodwaters and mandatory evacuations.
  • Ventura County reports 8 inches of rain; major risks of mudslides and possible tornadoes.
  • Road closures, power outages, and shopping disruptions evident.
  • Historic Comparison: L.A. hasn’t received such heavy Christmas rainfall since 1971.
• Quote:
  • “Water rushing down the San Gabriel Mountains. Elsewhere, you have closed roads, flooded streets, downed power lines and trees. Last minute shoppers fighting the wind and the rain.”
    — Will William Lajeunesse [04:14]

Powerball Jackpot Winner

[04:36–04:57]

• Headline: A single ticket wins the $1.7 billion Powerball jackpot on Christmas Eve.
• Winning Numbers: 4, 25, 31, 52, 59 (Powerball: 19)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Pope’s Message:
  “In the face of the suffering of the poor, God sends one who is defenseless to be the strength to rise again.” — Pope Leo XIV (Tom Rigotti relaying, [00:27])
• On the Warrior Dividend:
  “That one dollar is pretty cool.” — President Trump (via Will William Lajeunesse, [01:43])
• Holiday Travel Chaos:
  “The holiday joy is in the air here, but some major storms from coast to coast causing delays and cancellations.” — Brooke Teller [03:12]
• California Floods:
  “Water rushing down the San Gabriel Mountains. Elsewhere, you have closed roads, flooded streets, downed power lines and trees.” — Will William Lajeunesse [04:14]

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Key Timestamps

• 00:03 – Pope Leo XIV’s first Christmas Eve Mass
• 00:46 – Honduras presidential election result; U.S. reaction
• 01:25 – President Trump’s Christmas call to US troops
• 02:59 – Record holiday travel and nationwide severe weather
• 03:47 – California storm emergency and flooding updates
• 04:36 – Powerball jackpot winner announcement

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Summary

This Fox News Hourly Update delivers a holiday blend of major world events—emphasizing the first American pope’s Christmas message, a notable Latin American election, U.S. military appreciation, severe travel-disrupting weather, and a record lottery win—capturing the urgency and spirit of Christmas Eve 2025. The tone remains factual and brisk, with select quotes offering insight into the emotions and perspectives shaping the news.

Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

Christmas eve. In rome, I'm debra valentine, fox news. Pope leo xiv presides over his first christmas eve mass at the vatican. More from fox's tom rigotti.

[Tom Rigotti]

The first Noel and the first Christmas Eve Mass for Pope Leo XIV following his election this spring after the death of Pope Francis, Confiteor Deo Omnipotenti, referring to the birth of Jesus, the pontiff telling thousands of the faithful, in the face of the suffering of the poor, God sends one who is defenseless to be the strength to rise again. The first American born pope has emphasized care for immigrants and the marginalized essential themes of his early papacy. Tom Rigotti, FOX News.

[Debra Valentine]

President Donald Trump's preferred candidate is declared the winner of the presidential election in Honduras. Fox's Jared Halpern has more from Washington.

[Jared Halpern]

A weeks long vote count ended with Nasri Asfura winning the presidential election in Honduras. The conservative candidate was endorsed by President Trump in a closely contested race that served as a rebuke to the current leftist government. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the Trump administration looks forward to working with us for to advance prosperity and security in our hemisphere. As for his win comes weeks after Chile elected a right wing challenger as president. In Washington, Jared Halpern, FOX News On.

[Debra Valentine]

Christmas Eve, President Donald Trump called members of the US Military from his estate, Mar a Lago and Florida, highlighting the troops their warrior dividend, which he announced.

[Will William Lajeunesse]

Last week was 1775. And I said, you know, if you had $1, it's 1776. And everyone said, well, we never thought of it, but that one dollar is pretty cool.

[Debra Valentine]

One and a half million US Service members are eligible for that dividend. It's being paid for through the one big beautiful bill. America is listening to Fox News.

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[Debra Valentine]

Safe. A record number of Americans are hitting the road this Christmas season. An estimated 122 million people are traveling. Most are going by vehicle, others by train or.

[Brooke Teller]

Plane. The holiday joy is in the air here, but some major storms from coast to coast causing delays and cancellations. On the West coast, nearly 40 million people are under a flood watch because of dangerous winds and heavy rain. And on the east coast coast, winter weather alerts are in place for 30 million people across the Northeast and New England. According to FlightAware, there are more than 3,200 delays and 130 cancellations. The busiest travel day expected to be the Sunday after Christmas. So December.

[Debra Valentine]

28Th. Fox's Brooke Teller reporting from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. A state of emergency declared for several counties in California as a storm is underway bringing heavy rain and flooding to Southern California. Foxes Will William lajeuness reports from Malibu.

[Will William Lajeunesse]

California. Some fast moving water ripping through San Bernardino County. Mandatory evacuations there. In the foothills, Louisiana gets about 14 inches of rain a year. We're expecting 4 to 8 inches over just two to three days and already Ventura county has seen 8 inches in the foothills. Water rushing down the San Gabriel Mountains. Elsewhere, you have closed roads, flooded streets, downed power lines and trees. Last minute shoppers fighting the wind and the rain. The Last time the LA received about 2 inches of rain or more on Christmas Day was.

[Debra Valentine]

1971. Residents also at risk for mudslides and tornadoes. The top tier winning ticket for Powerball's $1.7 billion jackpot on Christmas Eve was sold. The winning numbers, 4, 25, 31, 52 and 59. The Powerball is 19. I'm Debra Valentine. This is FOX.

[Brooke Teller]

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

[Jared Halpern]

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.