1PM ET 12/28/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: 1PM ET 12/28/2025 Newscast

Host: Paul Stevens
Date: December 28, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers an incisive snapshot of headline events from around the world and across the US. Coverage centers on US-Ukraine-Russia peace talks, severe winter weather in the Midwest, a mass shooting in Chicago, public safety concerns in California, the evolving role of faith in American life, and the death of French film legend Brigitte Bardot. The tone is brisk and direct, matching the urgency and diversity of the news items.

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Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. US-Ukraine Peace Negotiations with Russia

• [00:02–00:55]
  • Paul Stevens opens with news of a high-stakes meeting at Mar-a-Lago between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
  • Key context: Ongoing peace negotiations to halt the Russia-Ukraine war.
  • Madeleine Rivera adds background:
    • Zelensky is pushing to finalize a peace plan.
    • Major obstacles:
      • Disputed territorial control.
      • Security guarantees.
      • The future of a Russian-occupied power plant.
    • Zelensky reportedly open to a mutual troop pullback and creating a demilitarized buffer in the Donbass region, contingent on reciprocal Russian withdrawal.
  • Quote (Zelensky): “He’s willing to do whatever it takes to end the war...including reportedly potentially pulling back troops in parts of the Donbass region Ukraine still controls.” (Madeleine Rivera, 00:36)

2. Continuing Russian Attacks on Ukraine

• [00:55–01:20]
  • Russia remains entrenched, asserting intent to keep occupied territories.
  • Overnight attack on Kyiv with drones and missiles:
    • At least one dead.
    • Nearly 30 injured.
  • The humanitarian and strategic stakes remain high.

3. Midwest Winter Storm Threat

• [01:20–01:53]
  • Adam Klotz reports on a major winter storm:
    • Blizzard warnings for Minnesota, Iowa, the Dakotas, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
    • Potential for up to a foot of snow.
    • High winds causing blizzard conditions and visibility issues.
    • Expected impacts: travel disruptions and flight delays.
  • Quote: “Maybe as much as a foot of snow with a whole lot of wind...that is when you start to see blizzard conditions because the visibility drops pretty drastically.” (Adam Klotz, 01:45)

4. Chicago Mass Shooting

• [02:31–03:00]
  • Four men shot (one killed, three critically injured) during an early morning incident in downtown Chicago.
  • Attackers fled in a vehicle; no arrests at time of report.
  • Ongoing investigation.

5. California Gas Leak and Public Safety

• [02:31–03:00]
  • Shelter-in-place lifted following a major natural gas line rupture north of Los Angeles, potentially due to a mudslide.
  • No injuries reported; major freeway reopened.
  • Investigation ongoing; main gas line remains shut off.

6. The Role of Faith in Contemporary America

• [03:00–04:01]
  • Lucas Tomlinson explores faith’s evolving place in American society, especially during the holidays.
  • Story highlights include:
    • President Trump’s brush with death—“My life was saved for a reason. I was saved by God to make America great again.” (Religious Speaker, 03:22)
    • Administration's focus on faith:
      • Creation of a White House faith office.
      • Elevation of religious advisors.
      • Executive order against “anti-Christian bias.”
  • National Prayer Breakfast as a platform for presidential emphasis on faith.

7. Brigitte Bardot Passes Away

• [04:01–04:28]
  • Announcement of death of French film icon and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot at age 91.
  • Recalled as a transformative star (“And God Created Woman”) and advocate.
  • Quote: “Brigitte Bardot, the French film icon who redefined 1960s glamour...has died at 91.” (Paul Stevens, 04:02)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the stakes of the Ukraine war:
  “Zelensky says he’s willing to do whatever it takes to end the war, and that includes reportedly potentially pulling back troops...”
  (Madeleine Rivera, 00:36)

• Human toll of warfare:
  “An attack...overnight killed at least one person, injured nearly 30 others in the Ukrainian capital.”
  (Paul Stevens, 00:55)

• On blizzard warnings:
  “Maybe as much as a foot of snow with a whole lot of wind...blizzard conditions because the visibility drops pretty drastically.”
  (Adam Klotz, 01:45)

• On faith and second chances:
  “My life was saved for a reason. I was saved by God to make America great again.”
  (Religious Speaker, 03:22)

• Remembering a legend:
  “Brigitte Bardot, the French film icon who redefined 1960s glamour before reinventing herself as a fierce animal rights activist, has died at 91.”
  (Paul Stevens, 04:02)

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Key Timestamps

• 00:02 — Show opens with Ukraine peace meeting news.
• 00:24 — Madeleine Rivera details meeting priorities and sticking points.
• 00:55 — Russian attacks on Kyiv; humanitarian impact.
• 01:20 — Adam Klotz details Midwest blizzard conditions.
• 02:31 — Chicago mass shooting; LA gas line rupture updates.
• 03:22 — Lucas Tomlinson on faith; Trump’s recovery and faith focus.
• 04:01 — Brigitte Bardot obituary.

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Summary

This tightly edited FOX News update covers a broad swath of breaking stories: high-level Ukraine peace talks, continued conflict on the ground, extreme Midwest weather, urgent public safety updates from California and Chicago, an exploration of the nation's spiritual pulse during the holidays, and the passing of a legendary film icon. The reporting is urgent yet grounded, balancing hard news with humanity and context.

Transcript

[Paul Stevens]

The next step. I'm Paul Stevens, Fox News. President Trump said to me with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Mar A Lago later today, they'll talk about ongoing peace negotiations in the Ukraine, war with Russia. The president also expected to hold another meeting with Zelensky this week regarding international peace. Fox's Madeleine Rivera in D.C. the first.

[Madeleine Rivera]

Of these two big meetings is happening between President Trump and President Zelensky. After weeks of negotiations, Zelensky is aiming to close the G on a plan to end the war. There are major sticking points like territorial issues, control of a Russian occupied power plant and security guarantees. But Zelensky says he's willing to do whatever it takes to end the war, and that includes reportedly potentially pulling back troops in parts of the Donbass region. Ukraine still controls. That's only if Russia does the same from an equal area of land and the area turns into a demilitarized zone.

[Paul Stevens]

Meantime, Russia maintains it wants to keep as much of the territory it's occupied as possible and continues attacks on Kyiv. An attack and consisting of drones and missiles overnight killed at least one person, injured nearly 30 others in the Ukrainian capital. The northeastern US was hit with a big winter storm Friday night into Saturday morning. Now the Midwest part of the country is in the crosshairs of another big winter system.

[Adam Klotz]

We've got a big winter weather maker here over the next couple of days as this big storm move across the Midwest. At times this is going to be a blizzard. The upper Midwest there, Minnesota, Iowa, getting into the Dakotas, even over towards the UP. So this is a big winter weather maker that begins really today as you're going to see some heavy snowfall. Obviously, anybody flying out of those locations will see at least some sort of delays across the upper Midwest as we watch this system shift from the Northern plains across the Great Lakes. Maybe as much as a foot of snow with a whole lot of wind with this, that is when you start to see blizzard conditions because the visibility drops pretty drastically.

[Paul Stevens]

Fox's Adam Klotz America is listening to FOX News.

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[Paul Stevens]

A deadly mass shooting in Chicago, leaving one man dead, three others critically hurt. Police say it happened around 2:35 this morning local time in the river north neighborhood. Several men were getting into a car. Four suspects approaching on foot. Police say they opened fire and fled in a vehicle. A 34 year old man died at a hospital. No arrests have been made. Meantime, shelter in place. Orders have been lifted after a natural gas line ruptured just 40 miles north of Los Angeles, shutting down down a major freeway for hours. The highway open now back to normal, Louisiana. County deputies think the rupture may have stemmed from a mudslide. The main gas line has been shut off as fire officials investigate. Many are thinking about faith during the holiday season as they spend time with family and friends. Celebrate. Fox's Lucas Tomlinson takes a look at the state of faith in the US.

[Religious Speaker]

My life was saved for a reason. I was saved by God to make America great again.

[Lucas Tomlinson]

Six months after an assassin's bullet nearly ended his life.

[Religious Speaker]

Father, we thank you.

[Lucas Tomlinson]

President Trump returned to the White House vowing to return the importance of faith into all aspects of American life. He created a White House faith office and elevated religious advisors roles within the administration. The president does not shy away from releasing images of himself praying with religious leaders. On the same day as the National Prayer Breakfast in February, he signed an executive order to address what he called anti Christian bias.

[Paul Stevens]

And again, fox's Lucas Tomlinson. Brigitte Bardot, the French film icon who redefined 1960s glamour before reinventing herself as a fierce animal rights activist, has died at 91. Her foundation confirmed she passed away today at her home in southern France. She became a global sensation with the movie and God Created Woman once again, Bridget Bardot passing away at 91. I'm Paul Stevens. This is FOX News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

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

[Podcast Narrator]

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 podcasts.