2PM ET 12/11/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 2PM ET 12/11/2025

Main Theme:
A fast-paced news update covering key developments in U.S. domestic policy, international affairs, Homeland Security proposals, legal news in sports, and financial market performance.

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1. The U.S. Economy & Political Debate

• White House Optimism:
  • Lisa Brady opens with the current administration’s view that the economy is “trending in the right direction.” [00:02]
  • Presidential spokeswoman Caroline Levitt emphasizes ongoing progress:

    “Things are getting better and they will continue to.”
    — Caroline Levitt [00:08]

  • Levitt frames President Trump as empathetic toward consumer struggles, blaming the previous administration:

    “President Trump understands better than any politician in this city the pain that the American consumer has been feeling for years now because of the last administration’s policies.”
    — Caroline Levitt [00:17]

• Ongoing Debate on Affordability & Health Care:
  • Democrat Critique: Democrats argue that Trump’s policies worsen affordability. Emphasis on rising Obamacare premiums as a Democrat plan to extend subsidies fails in the Senate. [00:26]
  • Senate Showdown: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer reacts to blocked Republican proposals:

    “Democrats’ focus does not change. We fought like hell to stop these hikes and we’re going to continue to fight like hell to bring costs down for the American people. On health care, on housing, on electric rates, on groceries.”
    — Chuck Schumer [00:39]

  • Policy Deadlock: Democratic proposals for subsidies vs. Republican proposals to shift funds to health savings accounts. [00:52]
  • White House Response: Levitt promises more information soon and continued efforts to find solutions. [00:52]

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2. U.S. Foreign Policy & National Security

• Pressure on Venezuela:
  • Levitt outlines a “new approach” by Trump in U.S. policy toward Venezuela:

    “The president has taken a new approach that has not been taken by any administration for quite some time to actually focus on what’s going on in our own backyard this day.”
    — Caroline Levitt [01:11]

  • Context: Follows seizure of an oil tanker allegedly carrying black market oil for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. The Justice Department approved a warrant for the seizure. [01:21]
• Ukraine War and International Diplomacy:
  • Difficulty advancing a peace plan for Ukraine due to pushback from European leaders seeking security guarantees for Ukraine.
  • U.S. Commitment:

    “President Trump will send a representative to talks in Europe this weekend if there’s a real chance of signing a peace agreement.”
    — Lisa Brady [01:40]

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3. Homeland Security: Screening Foreign Visitors

• Possible Visa Waiver Changes:
  • Homeland Security considering requiring foreign visitors using the Visa Waiver Program to submit: [02:15]
    • Up to five years of social media records
    • Email addresses from the last decade
    • Birthplaces of immediate family members
  • Legal Perspectives:
    • Skepticism about the effectiveness in stopping terrorists, as “they don’t typically post their extreme views on social media.” [02:37]
  • Official Position:
    • Customs officials say this is exploratory, not yet a formal rule; intended as a first step in safeguarding Americans. [02:50]

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4. Legal News: NASCAR Antitrust Settlement

• Settlement Announced:
  • NASCAR settles an antitrust lawsuit brought by two teams, including one co-owned by Michael Jordan. [02:58]
  • Key Change:
    • NASCAR agrees to “a form of Evergreen Charters,” addressing teams’ concerns about the one-sided nature of prior contracts. [03:10]

    • “We both compromised on both of our agendas and I think we both come to the conclusion that it’s better for the sport.”
      — Michael Jordan [03:47]

  • Significance: The settlement, reached on day nine of the federal trial, could reshape how teams secure starting spots and share prize money. [03:56]

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5. Financial Markets Update

• Wall Street Rally:
  • The Dow Jones surges 635 points, reaching record highs.
  • The S&P 500 also hits new highs.
  • The Nasdaq lags, down 91 points. [03:56]

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Notable Quotes Recap

• “Things are getting better and they will continue to.”
  — Caroline Levitt [00:08]
• “President Trump understands better than any politician in this city the pain that the American consumer has been feeling for years now because of the last administration’s policies.”
  — Caroline Levitt [00:17]
• “Democrats’ focus does not change. We fought like hell to stop these hikes and we’re going to continue to fight like hell to bring costs down for the American people. On health care, on housing, on electric rates, on groceries.”
  — Chuck Schumer [00:39]
• “We both compromised on both of our agendas and I think we both come to the conclusion that it’s better for the sport.”
  — Michael Jordan [03:47]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:02] White House economic outlook and debate
• [01:11] U.S. policy on Venezuela and Ukraine peace efforts
• [02:15] Homeland Security considers new visitor screening
• [02:58] NASCAR antitrust lawsuit settlement
• [03:56] Financial markets update

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Tone & Style:
The newscast is direct and informative, featuring rapid updates and direct quotes from officials amid a fast-moving news cycle. The tone is urgent yet balanced, encapsulating the headlines that matter most in under four minutes.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

Trending in the right direction. Lisa Brady, FOX News. That's the White House take on the US Economy.

[Caroline Levitt]

Things are getting better and they will continue to.

[Lisa Brady]

Spokeswoman Caroline Levitt says the president is focused every day on digging the economy out of a hole he says he inherited.

[Caroline Levitt]

And President Trump understands better than any politician in this city the pain that the American consumer has been feeling for years now because of the last administration's policies.

[Lisa Brady]

This has Democrats keep arguing that Trump policies are making affordability worse. Obamacare premiums are expected to rise as a Democrat plan to extend subsidies fails a test vote in the U.S. senate.

[Chuck Schumer]

Democrats focus does not change. We fought like hell to stop these hikes and we're going to continue to fight like hell to bring costs down for the American people. On health care, on housing, on electric rates, on groceries.

[Lisa Brady]

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer after Democrats blocked a Republican alternative that would have shifted money from subsidies into health savings accounts. Caroline Levitt just telling reporters they'll be hearing more from the White House and the president soon and that a search for solutions will continue. She's also defending ramped up pressure on Venezuela.

[Caroline Levitt]

The president has taken a new approach that has not been taken by any administration for quite some time to actually focus on what's going on in our own backyard this day.

[Lisa Brady]

After an oil tanker was seized, Levitt says the Justice Department approved a warrant authorizing that seizure because the ship was carrying sanctioned black market oil to Iran's Revolutionary Guard. In the push to end the war in Ukraine. The backed plan still facing pushback from European leaders working on security guarantees for Ukraine. As part of any potential accord, the White House says President Trump will send a representative to talks in Europe this weekend if there's a real chance of signing a peace agreement. America is listening to Fox News.

[Caroline Levitt]

This is Ainsley Earhart.

[Ainsley Earhart]

Thank you for joining me for the.

[Caroline Levitt]

52 episode podcast series the Life of.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

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.

[Lisa Brady]

Homeland Security might require foreign travelers who have visa waivers to submit their social media records in order to enter the.

[Ainsley Earhart]

U.S. customs and Border Protection is considering the rule. It's not in effect yet. It would require foreigners from countries who are allowed in for 90 days without a visa to give officials access to up to five years worth of their social media content for vetting purposes, as well as email addresses one has had for the last decade. And the birthplaces of immediate family members. One attorney told Fox 2 Detroit this plan won't likely result in catching or stopping any potential terrorists that they don't typically post their extreme views on social media. Customs officials say this isn't a rule yet, just the first step in a conversation about new policy options meant to keep Americans safe.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jessica Rosenthal after more than a year of public and private negotiations, a settlement is reached and the antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR brought brought by two teams, including one co owned by Bankel Jordan.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

A lot of the details are still being kept under wraps, but the big news is changes to charters, which guarantee teams starting spots in races and shares of the prize money. The charters are now renewed on a contract basis, which teams argued gave NASCAR too much leverage, letting them offer take it or leave it deals to get some power back. The teams had been hoping to be able to acquire Evergreen Charters, something NASCAR had pushed back on. But in a joint statement, NASCAR says as part of the settlement, it has now agreed to quote a form of Evergreen Charters. Fox Motorsports reporter Bob Pockrass was at the courthouse and heard from Michael Jordan afterwards.

[Caroline Levitt]

We both compromised on both of our agendas and I think we both come to the conclusion that it's better for the school.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

Greg Thompson, FOX NEWS that settlement reached.

[Lisa Brady]

On day nine of that federal trial. There's a big rally on Wall street right now. The Dow's up 635 points in record territory. The S and P also hitting highs. But the Nasdaq is down 91 points. Elisa Brady, FOX NEWS.