3AM ET 12/20/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 3AM ET 12/20/2025 Newscast

Date: December 20, 2025
Host: Chris DiMeo
Duration: ~4:50
Overview:
This episode provides the latest updates on key national and international news stories, focusing on intensifying U.S. military action against ISIS, President Trump's ongoing efforts surrounding the economy and drug pricing, significant incidents in Taiwan and New Jersey, new findings in a high-profile crime investigation at Brown University, and developments on energy policy and economic indicators.

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1. U.S. Airstrikes on ISIS in Syria

Key Points:

• The U.S. Pentagon has ramped up airstrikes against ISIS in Syria, hitting over 70 targets in retaliation for the ambush and killing of three Americans.
• The operation is named "Operation Hawkeye Strike," a nod to Iowa’s state nickname.
• Targets included ISIS infrastructure and weapons storage sites.
• Sgt. William Nate Howard, Sgt. Edgar Torres Tovar, and their interpreter, Ayad Mansour Sakat, who were killed in the ambush, were honored with a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base, attended by President Trump.

Notable Quote:

• [00:14] Pete Hegseth:

  "This is not the beginning of a war. It is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America under President Trump's leadership will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people."

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2. President Trump’s Economic Initiatives

Key Points:

• President Trump held a rally in North Carolina to highlight his administration's economic efforts, particularly lowering the cost of living.
• The President announced a deal to lower Medicaid drug prices, introducing “most favored nation” drug pricing plans.
• Pharmaceutical companies have agreed, meaning Americans will pay the lowest prices available globally for certain drugs.
• Rally signs read, "bigger paychecks and lower prices."
• Despite administration claims, Democrats argue that Trump’s tariffs have raised prices and recent polls suggest Americans disapprove of his handling of the economy.

Notable Quotes:

• [01:11] Jennifer Griffin:

  "Trump says some of the largest pharmaceut have agreed to dramatically lower drug prices for Americans. He says whatever the lowest price is worldwide, if it's what Germany pays or the UK Pays, that's what Americans are going to pay."

• [01:42] Chris DiMeo:

  "Democrats argue the president's tariffs have raised prices and recent polls suggest most Americans disapprove of his handling of the economy."

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3. International News: Attack in Taiwan

Key Points:

• A knife and smoke grenade attack in Taiwan leaves three dead.

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4. Train Crash in New Jersey

Key Points:

• Two trains collided in Montclair, New Jersey, leading to a minor derailment and seventeen reported injuries (non-life-threatening), with five taken by ambulance.
• Investigations are ongoing; initial video footage shows significant trackside damage.

Notable Quote:

• [02:36] Arte Geraldino:

  "New Jersey Transit says two trains made contact, but in plain English that means one train hit another and that led to a minor derailment."

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5. Brown University Shooting Investigation

Key Points:

• Authorities are tracking the motive of Claudio Neves Valente, the suspect in a shooting spree that resulted in multiple deaths, including an MIT professor and two others at Brown University.
• Valente died by suicide before being found in a New Hampshire storage facility.
• A homeless man called "John" provided a crucial tip leading to Valente's identification.
• Evidence tying Valente to both incidents includes ballistic and DNA matches.

Notable Quote:

• [03:23] Chanley Painter:

  "The FBI and ATF say ballistic and DNA evidence all tie the now dead suspect to the mass shooting at Brown University and to the murder of an MIT professor."

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6. White House Energy Policy & U.S. Economy

Key Points:

• The Trump Administration is counting on lower energy costs to alleviate inflation and affordability concerns.
• "Drill baby, drill" policies are emphasized as a means to unleash American energy independence.
• The stock market closed in positive territory on Friday.

Notable Quote:

• [04:05] Doug Burgum:

  "Well, President Trump has been bringing relief with the policies of this last year. Of course, he talked often about drill baby, drill, but that was really his way of signaling, hey, we're going to, we're going to unleash American energy."

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7. Additional News Briefs

• Taiwan Attack: Three people killed in a knife and smoke grenade attack (01:42).
• Stock Update: Markets finished positively for the day (04:18).

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Memorable Moment:

• The acknowledgment of the fallen Americans at Dover Air Force Base represented a solemn point, reinforcing the gravity of the military action and setting the tone for the episode’s first story (00:14-01:00).

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Segment Timestamps:

• 00:03 – Military strikes on ISIS and dignified transfer at Dover
• 01:00 – President Trump rallies and drug price announcement
• 01:42 – Reactions to Trump economic policies and Taiwan attack
• 02:31 – New Jersey train crash update
• 03:16 – Brown University shooting investigation
• 04:05 – White House energy policy and market update

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Summary: This newscast delivers concise but impactful coverage of U.S. military action overseas, the domestic economic agenda, and breaking news developments both at home and abroad. Key moments include the declaration of intensified action against ISIS, the rollout of global drug price benchmarking for Medicaid recipients, updates on violent crimes, and progress in public safety and regulatory investigations. The tone stays direct, urgent, and informative throughout, consistent with FOX News Radio’s approach to hourly updates.

Transcript

[Chris DiMeo]

Attacks on ISIS. I'm Chris DiMeo, Fox News. The Pentagon has struck more than 70 targets in Syria as they ramp up attacks on ISIS. It's in response to three Americans being ambushed in Syria.

[Pete Hegseth]

Last week, U.S. central Command launched a massive strike on dozens of ISIS targets in an operation called Operation Hawkeye Strike. Iowa is the Hawkeye State. The strikes took place at multiple locations across Syria. The targets include ISIS infrastructure and weapons storage sites. Pentagon chief Chief Pete Hegseth tweeted, quote, this is not the beginning of a war. It is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America under President Trump's leadership will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people. Sgt. William Nate Howard, 29, of Marshalltown and Sgt. Edgar Torres Tovar, 25, of Des Moines and their civilian interpreter Ayad Mansour Sakat of Michigan returned home in a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware where they were met by the president.

[Chris DiMeo]

Fox's Jennifer Griffin. President Trump held a rally Friday night in North Carolina to tout his administration's efforts to lowering the cost of living. The same day he announced a deal to lower Medicaid drug prices.

[Jennifer Griffin]

Much like his year end address earlier in the week and his speech in Pennsylvania earlier in the month, the commander in chief put a lot of emphasis on the economy with signs reading bigger paychecks and lower prices behind him. Earlier in the day, the president announced new most favored nation's drug pricing. Trump says some of the largest pharmaceut have agreed to dramatically lower drug prices for Americans. He says whatever the lowest price is worldwide, if it's what Germany pays or the UK Pays, that's what Americans are going to pay.

[Chris DiMeo]

Fox's Jeff Paul Democrats argue the president's tariffs have raised prices and recent polls suggest most Americans disapprove of his handling of the economy. Three people are dead in a knife and smoke grenade attack in Taiwan. America is listening to FOX News.

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[Chris DiMeo]

Federal regulators are investigating a crash between two trains in New Jersey.

[Arte Geraldino]

New Jersey Transit says two trains made contact, but in plain English that means one train hit another and that led to a minor derailment. New Jersey Transit says 17 people were hurt, but the agency says those injuries are non life threatening. And a local council member who went to the scene says five people were taken away by ambulance. Now in the video that was taken right after the crash, you can see close up damage including wheels off the tracks and investigators and first responders walking along the rails as they secure the scene and start really trying to piece together what happened that led to this crash in Montclair. To Arte Geraldino, FOX News Investigators are.

[Chris DiMeo]

Still searching for the motive of the man who police believe killed two people and endangered several others at Brown University.

[Chanley Painter]

The FBI and ATF say ballistic and DNA evidence all tie the now dead suspect to the mass shooting at Brown University and to the murder of an MIT professor. The official autopsy suggests the suspect, Claudio Neves Valente, fatally shot himself Tuesday, two days before officials found his body inside of a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire Thursday night. Police credit a homeless man simply known as John in the affidavit who apparently was was living in the basement of the Brown Engineering building for providing a pivotal tip that led the police to the suspect.

[Chris DiMeo]

Fox's Chanley Painter. The White House is banking on lower energy costs to address Americans affordability concerns.

[Doug Burgum]

Well, President Trump has been bringing relief with the policies of this last year. Of course, he talked often about drill baby, drill, but that was really his way of signaling, hey, we're going to, we're going to unleash American energy.

[Chris DiMeo]

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on FOX Businesses Maria Bartiromo's Wall street and stocks finishing in positive territory on Friday. I'm Chris DiMeo.

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