3AM ET 12/08/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update - 3AM ET 12/08/2025 Newscast

Date: December 8, 2025
Host: Ted Lindner | Fox News Podcasts

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Overview

This episode delivers a fast-paced roundup of the latest national and international news. Major stories include President Trump's remarks and actions at the Kennedy Center, updates on U.S.-Ukraine negotiations, immigration enforcement in New York, a drop in gasoline prices, ongoing developments in Israel-Hamas relations, controversy surrounding a Pentagon strike, and political fallout from a preemptive presidential pardon. The episode also touches on a viral workplace racism incident.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump at the Kennedy Center

• (00:03–00:31)
  • President Trump reorganized the Kennedy Center’s board and refocused fundraising efforts upon taking office.
  • He expressed optimism about the progress, stating:

    "It's going to be fantastic. When you see the end product, it's going to be better than it was new, and I think we'll celebrate that. But I will say that our country is doing really well."
    — President Trump, (00:18)

  • The president also joked about his performance and resignation.
  • Kennedy Center honorees included Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, Kiss, and Gloria Gaynor.

2. U.S.–Ukraine Negotiations

• (00:31–01:06)
  • Recent talks in Florida ended with no significant progress.
  • President Trump voiced disappointment with Ukrainian President Zelensky:

    "President Zelensky hasn't yet read the proposal... His people love it, but he has it. Russia's fine with it."
    — President Trump, (00:56)

3. Immigration Enforcement and Rights in NYC

• (01:06–01:36)
  • NYC officials remind residents of their rights regarding ICE operations (“Mayor Alex Zoram Mamdani” is referenced, but actual clip is Mayor Eric Adams).
  • Essential advice emphasized:

    "ICE cannot enter into private spaces like your home, school or private area of your workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge."
    — Mayor Eric Adams, (01:21)

  • Incoming Mayor Eric Adams commits to cooperation with immigration law enforcement.

4. Gasoline Price Drop

• (01:36–01:55)
  • National average price of regular-grade gasoline dropped by 8 cents per gallon over two weeks, now averaging $3.08:

    "Gasoline prices dropped an impressive 8 cents per gallon in the past two weeks. With regular grade now at 3.08, America."
    — Trilby Lumberg, (01:46)

5. Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Developments

• (02:31–02:58)
  • Israeli PM Netanyahu states the second phase of a ceasefire will proceed following the return of last hostage remains.
  • The new phase is expected to address Hamas’ disarmament.

6. Pentagon Strike Controversy

• (02:58–03:24)
  • Calls for the Pentagon to release footage of a second, deadly strike on a suspected drug boat.
  • Pete Hegseth, when pressed:

    "My job was to say execute or don't execute. So I was satisfied with the strike criteria... I fully support that strike. I would have made the same call myself."
    — Pete Hegseth, (03:13)

  • Hegseth not committing to video release, despite President Trump supporting disclosure.

7. Preemptive Pardon and Congressional Tensions

• (03:32–04:14)
  • After President Trump's preemptive pardon of Congressman Henry Cuellar, Trump harshly criticized Cuellar for running for reelection as a Democrat.
  • Cuellar defended his record on Fox:

    "I'm a Democrat, probably one of the most, if not the most bipartisan Democrat and as I told some of my Repub on the House floor, I vote better than some of the Republicans."
    — Rep. Henry Cuellar, (03:54)

  • Cuellar and wife Imelda are still facing indictments.

8. Workplace Racism Incident

• (04:14–04:28)
  • A Wisconsin Cinnabon employee was fired following a racist confrontation with a Black Somali couple, captured on video.
  • Cinnabon issued a statement distancing itself from the ex-employee’s actions.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump on the Kennedy Center project:

  "It's going to be fantastic. When you see the end product, it's going to be better than it was new..." (00:18)

• On Ukraine talks:

  "President Zelensky hasn't yet read the proposal... Russia's fine with it." (00:56)

• NYC Mayor on ICE:

  "ICE cannot enter into private spaces... without a judicial warrant signed by a judge." (01:21)

• Trilby Lumberg on gas prices:

  "Gasoline prices dropped an impressive 8 cents per gallon in the past two weeks." (01:46)

• Pete Hegseth on the controversial strike:

  "I fully support that strike. I would have made the same call myself." (03:13)

• Rep. Cuellar on his bipartisan record:

  "...I vote better than some of the Republicans." (03:54)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:03 – President Trump at the Kennedy Center
• 00:31 – US-Ukraine negotiations update
• 01:06 – NYC officials on ICE operations
• 01:36 – Gasoline prices drop
• 02:31 – Israel-Hamas developments
• 02:58 – Pentagon strike, Hegseth's position
• 03:32 – Trump’s pardon and attack on Cuellar
• 04:14 – Cinnabon racism incident

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Tone & Style

The episode maintains Fox News’ urgent, direct, and news-focused delivery. Reporting is concise, with occasional direct quotations highlighting key stakeholder perspectives and underscoring political divides. While fast-moving, it retains clarity on each major headlining topic.

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Note: All timestamps reference when each key segment or quote occurs, and advertising and non-content sections have been omitted for clarity.

Transcript

[Ted Lindner]

The president and his glory. At the Kennedy Center, I'm Ted Lindner. Fox News. President Trump reorganized its board and began fundraising efforts after he took office in January to realign the Kennedy Center's vision. The president telling reporters Sunday it's all going his way.

[President Donald Trump]

This is really a night of joy tonight because of what's happening with this building. It's going to be fantastic. When you see the end product, it's going to be better than it was new, and I think we'll celebrate that. But I will say that our country is doing really well.

[Ted Lindner]

The president had joked he would resign if he didn't do well. Honorees included actor Sylvester Stallone and singer songwriter George Strait, as well as the rock band Kiss and singer Gloria Gaynor. The Trump administration finished another round of talks with Ukrainian negotiators in Florida over the weekend. No major progress has been made. The president talked about that as well at the Kennedy center and said he's disappointed with Ukrainian leader Zelensky.

[President Donald Trump]

President Zelensky hasn't yet read the proposal. That was as of a few hours ago. His people love it, but he has it. Russia's fine with it.

[Ted Lindner]

And the Trump administration finishing that round of talks on Saturday. Meantime, in New York City, in a social media video, Mayor Alex Zoram Mamdani reminds New Yorkers of their rights in case ICE agents begin operations there.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

We can all stand up to ice. If you know your rights, if you encounter ice, these are the things that every New Yorker should know. First, ICE cannot enter into private spaces like your home, school or private area of your workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge.

[Ted Lindner]

Incoming Mayor Eric Adams promising to cooperate with immigration enforcement operations. When President Trump took office in January and the national average price of regular gas fell over the last couple of weeks, industry analyst Trilby Lumberg of the.

[Trilby Lumberg]

Lumberg survey gasoline prices dropped an impressive 8 cents per gallon in the past two weeks. With regular grade now at 308, America.

[Ted Lindner]

Is listening to Fox.

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[Ted Lindner]

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu says Israel and Hamas are expected to soon move into the second phase of a ceasefire. But first, Hamas has to return the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza. The second phase addresses the disarming of Hamas. Members of Congress want the Pentagon to release the full video of a second strike on an alleged drug boat that killed the survivors. As Pete Hegseth continues to face some heat, fox's Madeline Rivera Hegseth sat down.

[Madeline Rivera Hegseth]

With our Lucas Tomlinson yesterday at the Reagan National Defense Forum. Lucas pressed Hegseth about that follow on strike in September that killed two survivors on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean. Hegseth is standing by the second strike that he says Admiral Mitch Bradley oversaw.

[Pete Hegseth]

My job was to say execute or don't execute. So I was satisfied with the strike criteria. From what I understood then and what I understand now, I fully support that strike. I would have made the same call myself.

[Madeline Rivera Hegseth]

Hexeth, though, is not committing to releasing the video of this second strike, even though President Trump said last week that he supports the footage being released.

[Ted Lindner]

Just a few days after President Trump issued a preemptive pardon for embattled Congressman Henry Cuellar, the president lashed out at the Texas Democrat on his Truth social platform. Cuellar announced he is running for reelection as a Democrat. That prompted President Trump to blast him for, in his words, continuing to work with the same radical left scum Cuellar. Speaking of Fox, I'm a Democrat, probably one of the most, if not the most bipartisan Democrat and as I told some of my Repub on the House floor, I vote better than some of the Republicans. Cuellar and his wife Imelda indicted last year on several counts and a woman fired from her job on the counter to Wisconsin Cinnabon franchise in Ashawabanon after making a string of racist comments to a black Somali couple. Even throwing the N word into the mix as the couple filmed her warning her that she was gonna lose her job. The Cinnabon worker admitting on camera she's a racist while making obscene gestures. Cinnabon saying the ex employee's actions do not reflect the values of Cinnabon. I'm Ted Lindner.

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