Fox News Hourly Update – 1PM ET 12/31/2025 Newscast

Overview
This episode delivers an end-of-year roundup on major national and international stories, focusing on global New Year’s Eve celebrations and security, major political retirements, key financial trends, and breaking policy news. With reporting from various on-the-ground correspondents, it covers heightened security in Times Square, congressional shakeups, economic performance, ongoing government investigations, and a federal dispute with California over commercial driver's licenses.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Global and Domestic New Year’s Eve Celebrations

• Global New Year Begins:
  • Auckland, New Zealand is highlighted as one of the first major cities to usher in 2026, marked by fireworks at Sky Tower.
  • Security at U.S. Celebrations: Security is notably tight in New York City's Times Square amid no specific threats but amid massive crowds for New Year’s Eve.
  • [00:24] Alexis McAdams (Midtown Manhattan):
    • Coordinated efforts with local, state, and federal agencies.
    • Thousands of police officers deployed at access points; new this year, patrols include uniformed and plainclothes officers inside crowd pens.
      • "They're going to work with local, state and federal partners to enhance safety measures... new this year: officers will patrol in the pens... based on global terrorism trends." – Alexis McAdams [00:24]
    • Alcohol is banned in the viewing area, with bag checks and restrictions on backpacks and larger bags.
  • Weather: At midnight, NYC temperatures are expected near freezing with significant wind.
    • "Temperatures in New York City are expected to be right around freezing at midnight. Pretty windy." – Chris Foster [00:54]

Political Retirements and Congressional Changes

• Major Political Exits:
  • Notable figures such as Senator Mitch McConnell and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are set to retire by 2026 but will serve out their terms. Elise Stefanik is also mentioned.
    • "Longtime leaders like Senator Mitch McConnell and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced plans to retire from Congress..." – Ryan Schmelz [01:08]
  • Some, like Mark Greene and Marjorie Taylor Greene, are leaving earlier, with Marjorie Taylor Greene’s last day being Monday.
    • "Former House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Greene retired this summer while Georgia's Marjorie Taylor Greene will leave office on Monday." – Ryan Schmelz [01:21]
  • The passing of Democratic Representatives Sylvester Turner, Gerry Connolly, and Raul Grijalva is also noted.
  • [01:46] Financial Markets: The Dow is wrapping up 2025 up 13%, with the S&P and Nasdaq posting strong year-end gains (+17% and +20%).

Key Federal Investigations & Policy Developments

Minnesota Childcare Fraud Investigation

• Federal Funding Suspended:

  • The Department of Health and Human Services is freezing federal childcare funding to Minnesota amid investigations into fraud.
  • [02:25] David Spunt (D.C.):
    • Cites a top HHS official:
      • "We have turned off the money spigot and we are finding the fraud." [02:25]
    • Implies an ongoing dispute involving the Trump administration and Minnesota.
    • Minnesota Governor Tim Walz accuses the Trump administration of politicizing the issue:
      • "This has been his plan all along. He's politicizing the issue to defend programs that help Minnesotans." – Governor Tim Walz (quoted by David Spunt) [02:43]

• White House Response:

  • "Fraud in Governor Walz's state in Minnesota is something the Trump administration has been working on since day one." – White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt [03:04]
  • Efforts increased after journalistic investigations:
    • "Since Nick Shirley's journalism really brought this issue further to light, we have surged resources across the board to the state." – Caroline Levitt [03:13]

Dispute Over California Commercial Driver’s Licenses

• Federal Ultimatum:
  • The federal government claims California illegally issued commercial driver’s licenses to 17,000 unauthorized immigrants, mostly from India.
  • California risks losing $160 million in funding if licenses aren’t revoked by Monday.
  • [03:27] Segment on Legal Tension:
    • Federal officials say the licenses were issued without verifying immigration status or English proficiency, with expiration dates exceeding work papers.
    • Drivers argue that the error was California’s responsibility, not theirs:
      • "The problem is this. Most of these drivers entered the US illegally. Well, California mistakenly gave them driver's licenses... or allow them to get a new license." [03:35]
  • [04:01] Closing:
    • The threat of funding cuts is reinforced by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "They're going to add in thousands of police officers to screen at all of those access points... based on global terrorism trends."
  – Alexis McAdams, on NYE security upgrades in Times Square [00:24]

• "We have turned off the money spigot and we are finding the fraud."
  – Health & Human Services official, cited by David Spunt [02:25]

• "This has been his plan all along. He’s politicizing the issue to defend programs that help Minnesotans." – Governor Tim Walz, responding to federal funding freeze [02:40]

• "California made the mistake and has a responsibility to fix it or allow them to get a new license." – Segment on immigrant drivers’ reactions to license issue [03:34]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:02 – Global New Year celebrations & Times Square security preview
• 00:54 – Weather and transition to political news
• 01:08 – Congressional retirements and deaths overview
• 01:46 – Stock market year-end summary
• 02:25 – Federal freezing of Minnesota childcare funds, reporting from D.C.
• 03:04 – White House Press Secretary’s statement on Minnesota fraud
• 03:27 – California commercial driver’s licenses controversy
• 04:01 – Federal funding threat reiterated; episode closes

Tone:
The episode maintains a factual, concise, and slightly urgent tone typical of a breaking news update, with focus shifting quickly from one story to another and direct statements from officials and reporters for maximum informational impact.