1PM ET 12/22/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update - 1PM ET 12/22/2025 Newscast

Host: Paul Stevens (FOX News)
Date: December 22, 2025
Episode Overview:
This midday news update delivers the latest developments on U.S. foreign policy actions in Venezuela, severe weather events in California, investigations into a mass shooting at Brown University, major economic news from Tyson Foods, updates on U.S. energy policy, key developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the tragic deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife, and a major cybersecurity incident impacting France.

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Main Stories & Key Points

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1. U.S. Escalates Pressure on Venezuela

[00:03–00:46]

• Paul Stevens reports new efforts by the Trump White House to seize a third oil tanker near Venezuela, dialing up economic pressure on President Nicolas Maduro.
• Madeleine Rivera (Washington, D.C.) elaborates:
  • The targeted oil tanker is implicated in Venezuela's attempts to evade sanctions.
  • The U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a second tanker days earlier.
  • Republican support is split, but many back the seizures as part of an intensified campaign to destabilize Maduro.
  • Rivera emphasizes ripple effects in Cuba, which relies on Venezuelan oil imports.
• Quote (Madeleine Rivera, 00:17):
  "Targeting Venezuela's oil sector will have ripple effects in Cuba, too, which relies on crude imports from the country."

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2. Severe Weather and Tragedy in California

[00:46–01:06]

• Stevens details heavy rain and flash flooding in Northern California:
  • Several water rescues conducted.
  • At least one confirmed death.
  • Rainfall totals: 3–6 inches in two counties.
• No specific quotes, but the urgency and human toll are evident.

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3. Brown University Mass Shooting Investigation

[01:06–01:39]

• Scott Watson (via Brooke Taylor, Providence, RI) discusses insights from a Syracuse University professor who knew the shooter, Claudio Neves Valente:
  • Watson and Valente were fellow physics students at Brown 25 years ago.
  • The professor describes Valente as brilliant but socially isolated with a history of angry outbursts.
• Quote (Scott Watson, 01:26):
  "He says he was the shooter's only friend... He says he was isolated and he also had angry outbursts."
• The suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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4. Tyson Foods Plant Closure in Nebraska

[01:39–02:00]

• Stevens reports Tyson closing its beef plant in Lexington, Nebraska:
  • 3,200 jobs to be lost.
  • Major impact on a town with just 11,000 residents.

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5. Offshore Wind Project Lease Pause

[02:30–03:00]

• The Trump administration pauses five large-scale offshore wind projects on the East Coast:
  • Reason: Unspecified national security risks cited by the Pentagon.
  • The Interior and Defense Departments will collaborate to address the concerns.
• Quote (Paul Stevens, 02:37):
  "Now the White House says that pause is effective immediately, giving the Interior Department time to work with the Defense Department and other agencies to look at possible ways to mitigate any possible security risk."

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6. Ukraine Strikes Inside Russia & Russian Retaliation

[03:00–03:35]

• Jonathan Savage details Ukrainian attacks on Russian infrastructure:
  • Targets: Oil terminal, pipeline, fighter jets, ships, ammunition depot, drone launch site (all in Krasnodar region, close to Ukraine).
  • Aim: Disrupt Russia’s war effort, undermine morale.
  • Russia claims to have intercepted 41 Ukrainian drones and is attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure in return.
• Quote (Jonathan Savage, 03:14):
  "Kyiv hopes to disrupt Russia's war effort and undermine morale."

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7. Deaths of Rob Reiner and Wife

[03:35–04:16]

• Tonya J. Powers reports on family and friends gathering in Los Angeles to mourn Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle Singer Reiner:
  • Both found stabbed to death in their home on December 14th.
  • Their son, Nick Reiner (32), is charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
  • He is currently in solitary at Twin Towers Correctional Facility, on suicide watch.
  • Nick’s court date set for January 7th.
• Quote (Tonya J. Powers, 03:52):
  "Robin Michelle Reiner's bodies were found inside their home on December 14th. They'd been stabbed to death. Their son Nick is charged with two counts of first degree murder."

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8. Cyber Attack on French Postal Service

[04:16–04:28]

• Stevens reports a suspected cyberattack has knocked France's national postal service and its banking arm offline.
  • Officials indicate that customer data remains unaffected.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Madeleine Rivera (00:17):
  "Targeting Venezuela's oil sector will have ripple effects in Cuba, too, which relies on crude imports from the country."

• Scott Watson (01:26):
  "He says he was the shooter's only friend... He says he was isolated and he also had angry outbursts."

• Paul Stevens (02:37):
  "Now the White House says that pause is effective immediately, giving the Interior Department time to work with the Defense Department and other agencies to look at possible ways to mitigate any possible security risk."

• Jonathan Savage (03:14):
  "Kyiv hopes to disrupt Russia's war effort and undermine morale."

• Tonya J. Powers (03:52):
  "Robin Michelle Reiner's bodies were found inside their home on December 14th. They'd been stabbed to death. Their son Nick is charged with two counts of first degree murder."

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Venezuela oil tanker seizure & sanctions: 00:03–00:46
• Northern California flash floods: 00:46–01:06
• Brown University mass shooting background: 01:06–01:39
• Tyson Foods closure: 01:39–02:00
• Offshore wind lease pause / national security: 02:30–03:00
• Ukraine strikes inside Russia / Russian response: 03:00–03:35
• Rob Reiner & Michelle Singer Reiner tragedy: 03:35–04:16
• Cyberattack on French postal service: 04:16–04:28

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Episode Takeaways

This Fox News newscast spotlights high-stakes geopolitical maneuvers by the Trump administration, tragic developments both in crime and severe weather domestically, major impacts on U.S. workers, energy policy changes, and intensifying conflict in Eastern Europe. The reporting is direct, tightly edited, and focused on delivering facts and firsthand analysis to keep listeners informed as events unfold.

Transcript

[Paul Stevens]

Adding more pressure. I'm Paul Stevens, Fox News. The Trump White House is reportedly trying to seize a third oil tanker near Venezuela.

[Madeleine Rivera]

A U.S. official says this oil tanker is part of Venezuela's illegal sanctions evasion. American authorities have a seizure warrant for the ship. The pursuit comes after the US Coast Guard intercepted a second oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on Saturday. While not all Republicans support the seizures, many of them are backing the president. The moves are the latest escalation in the administration's pressure campaign against President Nicolas Maduro, whose leadership they see as untenable. Targeting Venezuela's oil sector will have ripple effects in Cuba, too, which relies on crude imports from the country.

[Paul Stevens]

And that's Fox's Madeleine Rivera in D.C. heavy rain and flash flooding soaking roads in Northern California, leading to water rescues and at least one confirmed death. Between 3 and 6 inches of rain fel by Sunday night in parts of two California counties. Officials meantime, still looking for a motive behind the deadly mass shooting at Brown University.

[Scott Watson]

We spoke to a Syracuse University professor who says that he knew the shooter and he's hoping to shine light on a possible motive. He says he was the shooter's only friend when they attended Brown University together as physics students 25 years ago. Professor Scott Watson described the shooter, who is Claudio Neves Valente, as socially awkward but also brilliant. He says they became friends because they both didn't have a lot of friends. He says he was isolated and he also had angry outbursts.

[Paul Stevens]

That's fox's Brooke Taylor in Providence, Rhode Island. The suspect died from a self inflicted gunshot wound. Tyson Foods announcing it's closing its beef plant in Lexington, Nebraska. That'll lay off 3,200 workers next month in a town of just 11,000. America's listening to FOX News.

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[Paul Stevens]

The Trump administration pausing leases for five large scale offshore wind projects being built along the east coast due to what they say are unspecified national security risks identified by the Pentagon. Now the White House says that pause is effective immediately, giving the Interior Department time to work with the Defense Department and other agencies to look at possible ways to mitigate any possible security risk risks. Ukraine says it's hit a series of big targets in southern Russia.

[Jonathan Savage]

Ukrainian officials claim they struck an oil terminal, a pipeline, two parked fighter jets and two ships. The attacks were focused on the Krasnodar region of southern Russia near Ukrainian territory. An ammunition depot and a launch site for attack drones were also targeted. Kyiv hopes to disrupt Russia's war effort and undermine morale. Russia's Ministry of Defense only saying it shot down 41 Ukrainian drones overnight. Russian forces, meanwhile, launched attacks at Ukrainian energy infrastructure once again. Jonathan Savage, FOX News One week after.

[Paul Stevens]

Actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife were found dead, some of those closest to them gathered together.

[Tonya J. Powers]

Family and friends of Robin Michelle Singer Reiner gathered at his sister Annie's home in Los Angeles on Sunday. Reiner's younger brother Lucas was seen heading into the gathering as other guests showed up with what appeared to be boxes of food. Robin Michelle Reiner's bodies were found inside their home on December 14th. They'd been stabbed to death. Their son Nick is charged with two counts of first degree murder. Nick, who is 32, has been in solitary confinement at Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown LA and reportedly remains on suicide watch. He is due back in court January 7th. Tonya J. Powers, FOX News.

[Paul Stevens]

A suspected cyber attack knocking France's national postal service and its banging arm offline. Officials say, however, customer data was not impacted. I'm Paul Stevens. This is FOX News.

[Tonya J. Powers]

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

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[Paul Stevens]

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