3AM ET 12/17/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: 3AM ET 12/17/2025 Newscast

Date: December 17, 2025
Host: Ted Lindner (FOX News Podcasts)
Episode Overview:
This episode delivers an update on the top national and international news stories as of early December 17, 2025. Major headlines include details on murder charges in Los Angeles involving Rob Reiner’s son, developments in the Brown University shooting case, expansion of the Trump administration’s travel ban, a mass shooting update from Sydney, and upcoming presidential and Powerball events.

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1. Main Theme

The episode’s central focus is breaking news covering a range of high-profile criminal cases, national security updates, and significant events both in the U.S. and abroad. The tone is urgent, factual, and authoritative, reflecting the format of an hourly radio—delivering concise, up-to-date reporting.

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2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

Los Angeles: Rob Reiner Family Murders (00:03–00:48)

• Charges Announced:
  • LA County District Attorney Nathan Hockman announces that Nick Reiner, son of actor/director Rob Reiner, faces two counts of first-degree murder for the stabbing deaths of his parents.
  • Special Allegations: Multiple murders and the personal use of a dangerous and deadly weapon (a knife).
  • Nick Reiner, age 32, is being held without bail and awaits arraignment pending medical clearance.
  • Quote – Nathan Hockman (00:30):
    “The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.”
  • The decision regarding pursuit of the death penalty is still pending.
  • No further evidence details released; arrest reportedly occurred without incident.

Providence: Brown University Shooting Investigation (00:56–01:44)

• Update on Person of Interest:
  • CB Cotton reports on new video footage of a “person of interest” related to the killings at Brown University.
  • Surveillance suggests the suspect was casing the neighborhood as early as 10:30am the day of the shooting.
  • Description: About 5’8”, stocky build, dark green and black jacket, masked—face not visible.
  • Quote – CB Cotton (01:09):
    “We can't get that clear view of his face. But officials are still hoping that someone will recognize his gait.”
  • The FBI released a video timeline with the earliest confirmed sighting at 2pm Eastern.
• No Connection to MIT Professor’s Death:
  • Authorities note no evidence linking this case to the recent killing of MIT professor Nuno Urreiro in Brookline.
  • No arrests have been made in that case.

Trump White House Address & Powerball (02:58–03:26)

• Presidential Address:
  • President Trump to speak from The White House at 9pm ET.
• Powerball Draw:
  • Next drawing at 11pm ET—jackpot stands at $1.25 billion (second largest this year).

Expanded U.S. Travel Ban (03:26–03:58)

• Details from Jackie Heinrich:
  • The Trump administration is expanding its travel ban from 12 countries to 32, including five new additions and people with Palestinian Authority documents.
  • 15 countries (mostly African nations) now subject to partial restrictions.
  • Justification: Corruption, fraud, unreliable documentation; action follows the shooting of two National Guard soldiers by an Afghan immigrant.
  • Quote – Jackie Heinrich (03:34):
    “The president's proclamation expands the administration's existing 12 country travel ban to five new countries and also to people with documents from the Palestinian Authority.”

White House Hanukkah Event & Sydney Shooting (03:58–04:27)

• Condolences for Sydney Shooting Victims:
  • At the White House Hanukkah party, President Trump offered prayers to those affected by the mass shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney.
  • Quote – Kristin Goodwin (04:15):
    “Love and prayers to our entire nation, to the people of Australia and especially all those affected by the horrific and anti-Semitic terrorist attack.”
• Australian Police Update:
  • 24-year-old man formally charged in connection with the 15-fatality mass shooting.
  • Victim information: One gunman’s father was among those killed.

Catholic Church Leadership Change (04:27–04:58)

• New York Archdiocese:
  • Pope Leo XIV is expected to accept Cardinal Dolan’s resignation, with a successor possibly to be named from Illinois.
  • Dolan resigned upon reaching age 75, having served since 2009.

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3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nathan Hockman (00:30):
  “The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.”
• CB Cotton (01:09):
  “We can't get that clear view of his face. But officials are still hoping that someone will recognize his gait.”
• Jackie Heinrich (03:34):
  “The president's proclamation expands the administration's existing 12 country travel ban to five new countries and also to people with documents from the Palestinian Authority.”
• Kristin Goodwin (04:15):
  “Love and prayers to our entire nation, to the people of Australia and especially all those affected by the horrific and anti-Semitic terrorist attack.”

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4. Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:03 — Lead story: Murder charges in Reiner family case (LA)
• 00:56 — Providence: Brown University shooting update
• 01:44 — MIT professor murder; authorities dismiss connection to Brown case
• 02:58 — Upcoming Trump address & Powerball details
• 03:26 — Trump administration’s expanded travel ban
• 03:58 — White House Hanukkah event & Sydney shooting update
• 04:27 — Vatican: Cardinal Dolan resignation & succession

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5. Language & Tone

This episode maintains a straightforward, breaking-news style with clear, direct reporting; emphasis is on immediate facts, quotes from officials, and rapid updates on active investigations and major government actions.

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Transcript

[Ted Lindner]

Charges for Rob Reiner's son. I'm Ted Lindner. FOX News officials in LA on Tuesday announcing charges in the murders of director and actor Rob Reiner and his wife. Fox's Kristin Goodwin with more from la.

[Nathan Hockman]

LA County District Attorney Nathan Hockman says Nick Reiner faces two counts of first.

[Kristin Goodwin]

Degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders. He also faces a special allegation that he personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, that being a knife.

[Nathan Hockman]

The 32 year old who is being held without bail, accused of fatally stabbing his parents in their Brentwood home. Hockman noting he'll be arraigned after a medical clearance, adding the charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.

[Kristin Goodwin]

No decision at this point has been made with respect to the death penalty.

[Nathan Hockman]

Not revealing any details on evidence but saying Nick Reiner was arrested without incident. The in Los Angeles, Kristin Goodwin, FOX News.

[Ted Lindner]

Authorities in Providence released a new video of the person of interest in the Brown University killings.

[CB Cotton]

There are some new visuals but none show the face of this person of interest. Still, we are learning that investigators now believe he was casing out this neighborhood next to Brown as early as 10:30am the morning of the shooting. Providence police are calling new enhanced video of the person of interest. He's described as someone 58 with a stocky build. He's got a dark green and black jacket and he's wearing a mask. So again, we can't get that clear view of his face. But officials are still hoping that someone will recognize his gait. The FBI also shared a video timeline of the suspected shooter moving through the neighborhood. The earliest video shared with us is timestamped around 2pm Eastern.

[Ted Lindner]

Foxes CB Cotton in Providence. No arrests in the shooting of the 47 year old MIT professor Nuno Urreiro found dead in his Brookline home Monday. Investigators say there's no connection to the Brown shooting. America's listening to FOX News.

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[Ted Lindner]

SimpliSafe. President Trump planning an address from the White House tonight. That will happen at 9pm Eastern. You have your Powerball tickets for tonight's drawing. That happens as well. That's at 11pm Eastern tonight. The jackpot now up to at least $1.25 billion. That makes it the second largest Powerball prize this year. If you win, that's a cash prize of at least $572.1 million. The Trump administration adding 20 countries to its travel.

[Jackie Heinrich]

Ban. Fox's Jackie Heinrich the president's proclamation expands the administration's existing 12 country travel ban to five new countries and also to people with documents from the Palestinian Authority. It also adds partial restrictions to 15 countries, most of them in Africa. The White House cited widespread corruption, fraud and unreliable documentation and records from those countries as the cause. And it comes after the administration pledged to crack down following the shooting of two National Guard soldiers by the White House by an Afghan.

[Ted Lindner]

National. The Afghan was allowed into the US Under a program but reportedly struggled to accommodate to his new life in Washington state. The president hosting the White House Hanukkah party where he started by giving his condolences to the victims of the deadly shooting at Bondi beach in Sydney, Australia this.

[Kristin Goodwin]

Weekend. Love and prayers to our entire nation, to the people of Australia and especially all those affected by the horrific and anti Semitic terrorist attack. And that's exactly what it is, anti.

[Ted Lindner]

Semitic. In Australia, the New South Wales joint counterterrorism teams formally charged a 24 year old man for being one of two gunmen responsible for the Vondi beach mass shooting that claimed the lives of 15 people. His father was killed. And Pope Leo the 14th expected to accept Timothy Cardinal Dolan's resignation this week. He'll possibly name a bishop from the pontiffs Illinois home state to lead the Archdiocese of New York. Dolan, who served as archbishop since 2009, submitted his resignation in February after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75. I'm Ted Lindner. This is FOX.

[Nathan Hockman]

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

[Ted Lindner]

Of 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.