1AM ET 12/30/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 1AM ET 12/30/2025 Newscast

Host: Sue Guzman, FOX News Podcasts
Date: December 30, 2025

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Episode Overview

This Fox News Hourly Update delivers the latest breaking political and world news as of December 30, 2025. It covers crucial U.S. diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, ongoing negotiations related to the Ukraine war, rising concerns about Iran’s weapons development, recent U.S. military actions against drug trafficking, a tragic helicopter accident in New Jersey, and new developments in a high-profile murder case.

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Key Discussion Points

1. U.S.-Israel Talks on Gaza Ceasefire

• Sue Guzman opens the report:

  • Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago to discuss “the next steps in the Gaza cease fire plan.”
  • [00:03]

• Darren Botello notes:

  • Both leaders are pushing peace talks, aiming to disarm Hamas as a core part of the plan.
  • [00:18]
  • “They’re going to continue those peace talks because they need to try to disarm Hamas.” —Darren Botello [00:29]

• President Trump comments:

  • “If they don't disarm as, as they agreed to do, they agreed to it, then they'll be held to pay.”
  • [00:35]

2. Progress in Ending the Ukraine War

• Another key focus of President Trump’s diplomacy is brokering peace in Ukraine.

• Darren Botello:

  • President Trump claimed that “both sides are getting a lot closer to ending the war in Ukraine” after an “excellent meeting” with Ukrainian President Zelensky.
  • [00:41]

• Sue Guzman:

  • Zelensky gave an exclusive interview to Fox’s Special Report, calling talks with Trump “productive,” but there’s disagreement regarding ceding territory to Russia.
  • [00:54]

• Ainsley Earhart underscores the point:

  • “On this one point, we have different.” —Ainsley Earhart [01:07]
  • The difference is with the Russians, not the Americans:
    • “Views with Russians, this is important.” —Darren Botello [01:09]
    • “Not with Americans, with Russians.” —Ainsley Earhart [01:11]

• Further reporting:

  • Trump spoke by phone with President Putin and is open to establishing a demilitarized economic zone in Donbas (still under Russian control).
  • [01:13]

3. U.S. Warnings to Iran Over Weapons Development

• Reports have surfaced that Iran is developing chemical and biological warheads for ballistic missiles.

• President Trump addresses the situation:

  • “If they are, we're going to have to knock them down. We'll knock them down. We'll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that's not happening.”
  • [01:40]

• Sue Guzman:

  • Iran is relocating and expanding missile infrastructure, moving some assets eastward to increase survivability against attack.
  • [01:49]

4. U.S. Military Strike Against Narco-Trafficking Boat

• Sue Guzman:
  • The U.S. military conducted another strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing two.
  • Announcement made by U.S. Southern Command on social media, with no supporting evidence offered.
  • “[...] This brings the total number of known boat strikes to 30 and people killed to at least 107 since early September.”
  • [02:58]

5. Fatal Helicopter Accident in New Jersey

• Grinnell Scott details a mid-air helicopter collision:
  • Two pilots—Kenneth Kirsch and Michael Greenberg (friends)—were killed.
  • The NTSB will investigate communication protocols and flight plans to determine the cause.
  • [03:38]

6. New Developments in the Charlie Kirk Murder Case

• Sue Guzman introduces a legal update:

  • A judge has unsealed part of a previously secret hearing in the Tyler Robinson case.
  • [03:56]

• Ainsley Earhart:

  • The transcript isn’t “earth shattering,” though some key details, including a line concerning Robinson’s initial arrest, remain redacted.
  • The court is missing information about the decision not to provide certain records.
  • [04:04]

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Notable Quotes

• President Trump on Hamas Disarmament:

  • “If they don't disarm as, as they agreed to do, they agreed to it, then they'll be held to pay.”
  • [00:35]

• President Trump on Iran:

  • “If they are, we're going to have to knock them down. We'll knock them down. We'll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that's not happening.”
  • [01:40]

• Zelensky on Negotiations with Trump:

  • “We have different [views], but on this one point, we have different. Not with Americans, with Russians.” —Ainsley Earhart and Darren Botello reporting [01:07–01:11]

• Ainsley Earhart (on murder case hearing’s transcript):

  • “The now unsealed transcript... is not earth shattering, but there are a few interesting moments and portions that were redacted.”
  • [04:04]

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Israel-Gaza Ceasefire Talks: 00:03 – 00:35
• Ukraine Peace Negotiations: 00:41 – 01:13
• U.S. Warnings to Iran: 01:40 – 01:49
• U.S. Strike on Narco-Trafficking Boat: 02:58 – 03:38
• Helicopter Collision in New Jersey: 03:38 – 03:56
• Charlie Kirk Murder Case Hearing: 03:56 – 04:46

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Memorable Moments

• Direct Presidential Language:
  • President Trump’s blunt warning to Iran and frankness regarding Hamas signal escalating rhetoric and hardline U.S. positions.
• Ukraine Diplomatic Complexity:
  • Zelensky’s insistence on not ceding Ukrainian territory, even as negotiations reach a critical stage, highlights the tensions still at play.
• Unsealed Murder Case Hearing:
  • Despite redactions, the release of previously confidential details adds a new dimension to public scrutiny of the closely watched legal proceedings.

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This concise yet thorough update gives listeners immediate awareness of the most pressing international and domestic news, providing direct quotes and clear breakdowns for each developing story.

Transcript

[Sue Guzman]

Discussing the next steps in Gaza. I'm Sue Guzman, Fox News. Israeli prime minister sitting down for discussions Monday with President Trump at Mar a Lago discussing among other things, the next steps in the Gaza cease fire plan.

[Darren Botello]

It's been a whirlwind 48 hours for the White House pushing peace. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister meeting with President Trump at Mar a Lago today. Those talks went pretty well as they were indicating. They were saying that they're going to continue those peace talks because they need to try to disarm Hamas.

[President Trump]

If they don't disarm as, as they agreed to do, they agreed to it, then they'll be held to pay.

[Darren Botello]

Today's meeting was the second in as many days where President Trump is attempting to broker peace. The president saying both sides are getting a lot closer to ending the war in Ukraine after a quote, excellent meeting with President Zelensky on Sunday.

[Sue Guzman]

Fox's Darren Botello reporting. Zelensky sat down for an exclusive interview with Fox's Special Report with Brett there. He, he says his talks with President Trump were productive, but he says they disagree on plans to cede territory to Russia.

[Ainsley Earhart]

On this one point, we have different.

[Darren Botello]

Views with Russians, this is important.

[Ainsley Earhart]

Not with Americans, with Russians.

[Sue Guzman]

President Trump spoke with Russian President Putin in a phone call before meeting with Zelensky. Says he's open to creating a demilitarized economic zone in the Donbas region which remains under mostly Russian control. Iran is reportedly developing chemical and biological warheads for its ballistic missiles. President Trump spoke to reporters before his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Monday. Said that the US Will attack Iran if the nuclear program continues.

[President Trump]

Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again and if they are, we're going to have to knock them down. We'll knock them down. We'll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that's not happening.

[Sue Guzman]

According to Iran, international missile infrastructure has been repositioned and expanded with some launch assets reportedly moved to eastern Iran to reduce vulnerability. America's listening.

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[Sue Guzman]

SimpliSafe. The US military says it has conducted another strike against a boat accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific, killing two people. The strike was announced by US Southern Command on social media and claims that the vessel was engaged in narco trafficking operations. No evidence, however, was provided to back it up. Now this brings the total number of known boat strikes to 30 and the number of people killed to at least 107 since early September 2nd of two pilots involved in a mid air helicopter collision over New Jersey has died Details from Fox's Grinnell Scott Kenneth Kirsch.

[Grinnell Scott]

Was pronounced dead at a hospital near the Hamilton, New Jersey site where his helicopter collided with one flown by his friend Michael Greenberg, who died at the accident scene Sunday. The NTSB is leading the investigation and is expected to examine factors such as communication and flight plans that may show why the collision.

[Sue Guzman]

Happened. A judge has ruled that a secret hearing in the Charlie Kirk murder case can be unsealed. Fox's Matt Finn has the latest about.

[Ainsley Earhart]

That. The now unsealed transcript from that private October 24th hearing is not earth shattering, but there are a few interesting moments and portions that were redacted. At one point in the hearing there is a line redacted right before one of Tyler Robinson's attorneys talks about Robinson's right to confidentiality about his medical records. The Transcript reads When Mr. Robinson was first arrested and then the rest of that line is redacted. It continues and I think it's interesting that the sheriff's department hasn't provided the court with any information as to why that is, that he has convinced the sheriff's department that that's not necessary. So it's not clear what may have happened or what was said that was redacted shortly after Robinson was first.

[Sue Guzman]

Arrested. The transcript was posted late Monday covering arguments over issues such as Robinson's clothing and the use of shackles in the courtroom. Robinson Dubakin May 18 I'm Sue.

[Ainsley Earhart]

Gosman. This this is Ainsley.

[Sue Guzman]

Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life.

[Ainsley Earhart]

Of Jesus, a listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever.

[Grinnell Scott]

Told. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to.