1PM ET 12/23/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 1PM ET, December 23, 2025

Host: Paul Stevens
Contributors: Jared Halpern, Tanya J. Powers, William Laje Ness, Ainsley Earhart, Matt Finn

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers concise updates on breaking political and global stories, offering a fast-paced summary of the day's top issues. Main topics include U.S. economic growth reports, the latest release of Jeffrey Epstein files, escalating tensions in Venezuela, a health announcement by former Senator Ben Sasse, a crackdown on undocumented truck drivers, a major Russian attack on Ukraine, holiday travel expectations, and Medicaid payment errors.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Economy & President Trump’s Tariffs

• Surprising GDP Growth:
  • Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose 4.3% between July and September, exceeding analyst expectations.
  • President Trump attributes this surge to his tariff policies and good governance.
    • Quote:
      • "The Trump economic golden age is full steam ahead. You haven't seen anything yet." — Jared Halpern reporting Trump’s view (00:19)
• Public Unease:
  • Despite growth, consumer confidence dropped by 3.8 points, reaching its lowest level since April.
  • Analysts point to ongoing uncertainty tied to tariffs as a source of anxiety among Americans.

2. Jeffrey Epstein Files Released

• New Batch of 11,000+ Files:
  • Justice Department releases a significant volume of materials: photos, court records, FBI & DOJ documents, videos, emails.
  • Follows previous releases, including grand jury transcripts over the weekend.
    • Quote:
      • "More than 11,000 files are in the latest batch..." — Tanya J. Powers (00:51)

3. U.S.–Venezuela Tensions

• Military Action:
  • U.S. strikes another alleged drug boat from Venezuela.
  • President Trump withholds ultimate goals but issues a strong warning to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
    • Quote:
      • "He could do whatever he wants. It's all right. Whatever he wants to do, if he wants to do something. If he plays tough, it'll be the last time he's ever able to play tough." — Paul Stevens quoting President Trump (01:21)
• International Response:
  • Russia affirms support for Maduro.
  • China condemns U.S. for seizing Venezuelan oil tankers.

4. Former Senator Ben Sasse Cancer Diagnosis

• Personal Announcement:
  • Ben Sasse (age 53) reveals advanced pancreatic cancer diagnosis, shared via social media.
    • Quote:
      • "The 53 year old Sasse making that announcement on social media, saying he learned of the disease and that diagnosis just last week." — Paul Stevens (01:37)

5. Crackdown on Undocumented Migrant Truckers

• Federal Enforcement Efforts:
  • ICE, Border Patrol, and Homeland Security are targeting checkpoints and shipping ports.
  • The administration claims California illegally issued thousands of commercial driver's licenses (CDL) to undocumented migrants; 17,000 have been revoked.
  • Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatens to withhold federal highway funds.
    • Quote:
      • "This administration is sending out ICE, Border Patrol, Homeland Security to checkpoints and shipping ports looking for illegal immigrants issued CDLs..." — William Laje Ness (02:38)

6. Russia’s Major Attack on Ukraine

• Scale of Assault:
  • Over 650 drones and three dozen missiles launched in a night-long offensive.
  • Civilian toll: at least three fatalities, including a four-year-old child.
    • Quote:
      • "Russia fired more than 650 drones three dozen missiles attacking Ukraine in a major offensive..." — Paul Stevens (03:14)

7. Holiday Travel Season Set to Break Records

• Travel Statistics:
  • TSA expects 44 million air passengers between Dec 19 and Jan 4.
  • U.S. airlines: about 3 million fliers per day.
  • Road travel to hit 109 million Americans, up 2% from last year.
  • Lower gas prices (below $3/gallon, first time in four years) are likely a factor.
    • Quote:
      • "Projected 109 million Americans will hit the road for the end of the year. That's an increase of 2% last year. And maybe it's because of gas price lower for the first time in four years." — Ainsley Earhart (03:36)

8. Medicaid Pays Over $200 Million Improperly

• Government Watchdog Report:
  • Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General finds over $200 million paid to providers for care of deceased individuals between 2021–2022.

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Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• “The Trump economic golden age is full steam ahead. You haven't seen anything yet.”
  — Jared Halpern (00:19)
• "More than 11,000 files are in the latest batch, which include photos… emails and more."
  — Tanya J. Powers (00:51)
• "If he plays tough, it'll be the last time he's ever able to play tough."
  — Paul Stevens quoting President Trump (01:21)
• “...already, the state's revoked about 17,000 CDLs. More are under review after Duffy threatened to withhold millions in highway funds.”
  — William Laje Ness (02:54)
• “The national average [gas price] dropped below $3 a gallon this month, according to AAA.”
  — Ainsley Earhart (03:48)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Economic Update & Trump’s Comments: 00:03 – 00:44
• Epstein Files Release: 00:44 – 01:07
• Venezuela Tensions/Military & International Response: 01:07 – 01:37
• Ben Sasse Cancer Diagnosis: 01:37 – 02:00
• ICE Crackdown on Truckers: 02:31 – 03:14
• Russian Offensive in Ukraine & Holiday Travel: 03:14 – 04:07
• Medicaid Payment Errors: 04:07 – 04:28

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Episode Tone & Style

The report is brisk, fact-focused, and direct, matching FOX News Radio’s style of rapid-fire headline delivery with succinct commentary and up-to-the-minute updates. The tone is urgent but neutral, prioritizing information density and major national/international developments.

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Transcript

[Paul Stevens]

A strong number. I'm Paul Stevens. FOX News. President Trump says his tariff policy is behind a surge in economic growth.

[Jared Halpern]

Gross domestic product jumped 4.3% between July and September, much stronger than expected from analysts on social media. President Trump says the success is due to good government and tariffs, adding the Trump economic golden age is full steam ahead. You haven't seen anything yet. At the same time, Americans are expressing unease about the economy. The consumer confidence index fell 3.8 points this month to its lowest level since President Trump announced wide ranging tariffs in April. In Washington, Jared Halpern, FOX News.

[Paul Stevens]

More files connected to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have been released by the justice department.

[Tanya J. Powers]

More than 11,000 files are in the latest batch, which include photos, court records, FBI and Justice Department documents, video, emails and more. The latest release follows the first group made public on Friday that contained thousands of photos and Saturday's release that held grand jury transcripts.

[Paul Stevens]

Fox's Tanya J. Power's U.S. military announcing Monday it hit another alleged drug boat from Venezuela.

[Tanya J. Powers]

The president not mentioning to reporters what his ultimate goal is. But he's issuing a warning to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

[Paul Stevens]

He could do whatever he wants. It's all right. Whatever he wants to do, if he wants to do something. If he plays tough, it'll be the last time he's ever able to play tough.

[Tanya J. Powers]

Russia is pledging full support for Maduro's government as China condemns the United States seizures of two oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela.

[Paul Stevens]

Fox's Madeleine Rivera. Former Nebraska U.S. senator Ben Sasse says he's been diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer. The 53 year old Sasse making that announcement on social media, saying he learned of the disease and that diagnosis just last week. America is listening to FOX News.

[Tanya J. Powers]

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[Paul Stevens]

ICE is cracking down on undocumented migrant truckers after a warning from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

[William Laje]

In many states like California, it's illegal for police to even ask a driver their immigration status, including those driving commercial trucks, which is why this administration is sending out ice, Border Patrol, Homeland security to checkpoints and shipping ports looking for illegal immigrants issued CDLs commercial licenses, including California, where it blames Governor Newsom for illegally issuing thousands of those CDLs to undocumented drivers. Already, the state's revoked about 17,000 CDLs. More are under review after Duffy threatened to withhold millions in highway funds.

[Paul Stevens]

Fox's William Laje Ness officials say Russia fired more than 650 drones three dozen missiles attacking Ukraine in a major offensive that began during the night stretching into daylight today. At least three people were reported killed, including a four year old child. AAA saying this holiday travel season is expected to be the busiest travel season ever.

[Ainsley Earhart]

TSA says it expects a total of 44 million passengers between last Friday, December 19th through January 4th. U S Airlines expecting about 3 million passengers a day. AAA says many more people are going to travel by car. Projected 109 million Americans will hit the road for the end of the year. That's an increase of 2% last year. And maybe it's because of gas price lower for the first time in four years. The national average dropped below $3 a gallon this month, according to AAA.

[Paul Stevens]

Fox's Matt Finn at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix. A new Department of Health and Human Services inspector general report says Medicaid programs made over $200 million in improper payments to health care providers between 2021 and 2022 for people who had already died. I'm Paul Stevens, Fox News.

[Tanya J. Powers]

This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for join 52 episode podcast series the Life of Jesus A listening.

[Ainsley Earhart]

Experience that will provide hope, comfort and.

[Paul Stevens]

Understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.