3AM ET 12/21/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update — 3AM ET 12/21/2025 Newscast

Host: Chris DiMaio
Reporters/Guests: Madeleine Rivera, Chanley Painter, Steve Harrigan, Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen
Air Date: December 21, 2025

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Episode Overview

This Fox News Hourly Update provides a concise roundup of the most pressing national and international news as of December 21, 2025. The episode details the U.S. military's latest strike against ISIS, domestic political disputes over the renaming of the Kennedy Center, ongoing U.S.-Russia dialogue regarding Ukraine, new escalations in U.S.-Venezuela relations, and strong Australian legislative responses following a deadly attack. Additional updates include a Powerball lottery report and the recognition of a hero in Australia.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Retaliatory Airstrikes Against ISIS in Syria

• [00:03] Chris DiMaio: Opens with news of U.S. military action—over 70 ISIS targets struck in Syria following an ambush that killed U.S. service members in Palmyra.

• [00:12] Madeleine Rivera (reporting from Washington):

  • "The president following through on a pledge to strike the terrorist group after the ambush attack on service members in Palmyra."
  • Highlights the dignified transfer of fallen soldiers—Sgt. Edgar Torres Tovar and Sgt. William Nate Howard—and their interpreter at Dover AFB, attended by the president.
  • Quote (Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War):

    “This is not the beginning of a war. It is a declaration of vengeance.” — [00:45]

• [00:46] Chris DiMaio: Jordan confirmed its air force participated. Details on casualties remain undisclosed.

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2. Protests Over Renaming the Kennedy Center

• [00:46] Chris DiMaio: Coverage of Saturday protests at the Kennedy Center over plans to add Donald Trump’s name to the institution.
• [01:12] Sen. Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, at the protest):
  • Criticizes the president's stance on the arts and accuses him of self-enrichment.
  • Quote:

    “We've got a president who doesn't respect the arts. All he respects is cash from his donors and billionaire buddies. He's in office to enrich himself and his family and the billionaires who were standing behind him when he was sworn in on Inauguration Day.” — [01:12]

• [01:31] Chris DiMaio: Notes the renaming by a Trump-appointed board, the argument from Democrats that only Congress can authorize such changes, and the president's reported surprise and honor at the move.

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3. U.S.–Russia Talks on Ukraine Conflict

• [01:31] Chris DiMaio: U.S. and Russian officials meet in Florida to discuss a Ukraine peace plan.
  • Russia describes talks as "constructive," with follow-up discussions scheduled.

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4. U.S. Military Pressure on Venezuela

• [02:32] Chris DiMaio: Shifts to increased U.S. activity near Venezuela.
• [02:35] Chanley Painter:
  • Reports U.S. Coast Guard and military seized a second oil tanker in international waters.
  • Venezuela labels the incident "theft and kidnapping," claiming the vessel was private.
  • President Trump imposes a “total and complete blockade” on sanctioned oil tankers and designates the Maduro government as a “foreign terrorist organization.”
  • Considers potential land strikes against Venezuelan drug operations.

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5. Australia: Countering Hate Speech After Attack

• [03:12] Chris DiMaio: Introduces updates on Australia’s reaction to a deadly Hanukkah attack.

• [03:21] Steve Harrigan:

  • Reports expected new restrictions on hate speech and demonstrations, especially the outlawing of the phrase “globalize the intifada.”
  • Proposes banning hate symbols linked to Hamas or the Nazi Party.
  • Comprehensive gun restrictions planned, including voluntary buyback and destruction of large numbers of weapons following an attack that resulted in 15 deaths.

• Recognition of Heroism:

  • [03:56] Chris DiMaio: Notes that Ahmad Al Ahmed, identified as the hero who intervened in the mass shooting, received over $1.5 million for his actions.

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6. Powerball Jackpot Update

• [03:56] Chris DiMaio: No winner for Saturday’s Powerball, the jackpot climbs to $1.6 billion ($735.3 million cash)—now the fifth largest U.S. lottery prize.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War ([00:45])

  “This is not the beginning of a war. It is a declaration of vengeance.”

• Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Democrat ([01:12])

  “We've got a president who doesn't respect the arts. All he respects is cash from his donors and billionaire buddies...”

• Steve Harrigan, Fox News, on Australia’s Response ([03:21])

  “Lawmakers here say they're going to outlaw the phrase globalize the intifada, which means for many trying to legitimize violent attacks against Jews. They're trying to also outlaw hate symbols, flags from parties like Hamas and the Nazi party as well.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• U.S. Strikes ISIS in Syria: [00:03] – [00:46]
• Kennedy Center Protest & Renaming Controversy: [00:46] – [01:31]
• U.S.-Russia Ukraine Peace Talks: [01:31] – [02:01]
• U.S. Pressure on Venezuela: [02:32] – [03:12]
• Australian Hate Speech, Gun Laws After Attack: [03:12] – [03:56]
• Powerball Lottery Update & Hero Recognition: [03:56] – [04:28]

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Podcast Tone & Style

The update is brisk, factual, and urgent, maintaining the matter-of-fact delivery style expected from network radio newscasts, punctuated with on-location reports and direct quotes from involved parties for a sense of immediacy and authority.

Transcript

[Chris DiMaio]

US retaliation. I'm Chris DiMaio, Fox News. The US striking more than 70 ISIS targets in Syria. Fox's Madeleine Rivera reports from Washington.

[Madeleine Rivera]

The president following through on a pledge to strike the terrorist group after the ambush attack on service members in Palmyra. The two Iowa National Guard members, 25 year old Sergeant Edgar Torres Tovar of Des Moines and 29 year old Sergeant William Nate Howard of Marshalltown and their civilian interpreter Ayad Mansour Saqad of Michigan, returned home, home in a dignified transfer Wednesday at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware where they were met by the president of Operation Hawkeye Strikes. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth says this is not the beginning of a war. It is a declaration of vengeance.

[Chris DiMaio]

The US Military didn't say how many had been killed in Friday's strikes. Jordan confirmed that its air force took part in that attack. A protest on Saturday outside the Kennedy arts Center in D.C. a group opposing government censorship, Hands off the Arts is upset over plans to rename the building the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy center for the Performing Arts. Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, one of the demonstrators.

[Chris Van Hollen]

We've got a lot of work to do. We've got a president who doesn't respect the arts. All he respects is cash from his donors and billionaire buddies. He's in office to enrich himself and his family and the billionaires who were standing behind him when he was sworn in on Inauguration Day.

[Chris DiMaio]

The Trump appointed board of trustees voted Thursday to add Trump to the art center's name. Democrats say only Congress can make that change. The president says he was honored and surprised by the move. U.S. and Russian officials meet in Florida for talks on a peace plan to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. Russia says that the talks were constructive. More talks are scheduled for Sunday. America's listening to FOX News.

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[Chris DiMaio]

US Military activity around Venezuela is ramping up.

[Chanley Painter]

The US Is putting new pressure on Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro after the US Coast Guard and military seized a second oil tanker in international waters. Venezuela's government claims it was a private ship and calls the US Actions theft and kidnapping. This latest seizure comes days after President Trump ordered a total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. The president has also designated the Maduro led government a foreign terrorist organization. President Trump is also weighing carrying out land strikes against drug operations inside Venezuela.

[Chris DiMaio]

That's fox's Chanley Painter. Australia is getting tough on certain speech after last week's deadly Hanukkah celebration attack on Bondi Beach.

[Steve Harrigan]

We are going to see likely some restrictions both on hate speech and on demonstrations here in Australia in the wake of Sunday's attack that left 15 dead. Lawmakers here say they're going to outlaw the phrase globalize the intifada, which means for many trying to legitimize violent attacks against Jews. They're trying to also outlaw hate symbols, flags from parties like Hamas and the Nazi party as well. The government is also planning new restrictions on gun ownership. They're planning a massive voluntary buyback of hundreds of thousands of weapons to then melt them down, get them off the street.

[Chris DiMaio]

That's fox's Steve Harrigan. Ahmad Al Ahmed, the hero of the mass shooting, received a check for more than one and a half million dollars for his bravery. Nobody won the Powerball jackpot in Saturday night strong so it increases to $1.6 billion. The cash prize of $735.3 million before taxes. That next drawing is on Monday evening. It's now the fifth largest lottery jackpot in US history and the fourth largest Powerball jackpot ever. I'm Chris DiMeo.

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[Madeleine Rivera]

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