3AM ET 12/23/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 3AM ET 12/23/2025 Newscast

Date: December 23, 2025
Host: Ted Lindner
Duration: ~4 minutes
Main Theme:
A rapid-fire briefing on top U.S. and global headlines, focusing on U.S.-Venezuela tensions, Trump’s military announcement, border enforcement incentives, deadly Texas plane crash, the Epstein files, campus violence, and the rising Powerball jackpot.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. U.S. Pursues Another Sanctioned Venezuelan Oil Tanker

[00:02-00:47]

• Kevin Cork reports the U.S. Coast Guard is in pursuit of the third “dark fleet” oil tanker near Venezuela in under two weeks, escalating pressure against the Maduro regime.
• The tankers are involved in sanctions evasion, “flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order.”
  • Quote (Kevin Cork, 00:17): "An administration official telling our Lucas Tomlinson the sanctioned dark fleet vessel is part of Venezuela's illegal sanctions evasion. It is flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order.”
• Venezuela accuses the U.S. of “piracy,” while China calls the seizures a violation of international law.

Notable Detail:

• U.S. Southern Command confirmed another strike against a drug boat in the eastern Pacific, with one alleged narco-terrorist dead, bringing total narco-trafficker deaths to 105 in 29 known strikes since September.

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2. Legal Ruling on Venezuelan Migrants

[00:47-01:12]

• Federal Judge James Boasberg ruled the Trump administration must allow court challenges for Venezuelan migrants sent to El Salvador’s notorious SICOT prison:
  • Either grant court hearings or return them to the U.S.

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3. Trump Announces Creation of the “Golden Fleet”

[01:12-01:50]

• President Trump revealed the U.S. will construct a new line of warships named the “Trump Class,” billing them as “the largest, fastest, most powerful battleships ever built.”
• In response to whether this is aimed at countering China:
  • Quote (Donald Trump, 01:36): "Just a counter to everybody. It's not China. We get along great with China. I have a great relationship with President Xi and not China. It's just everybody. You don't know who comes along. But we just wanted peace through strength. Hopefully we never have to use them.”

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4. Fatal Medical Plane Crash in Texas

[02:31-03:03]

• Angie Rodriguez covers a medical flight crash in Galveston Bay en route to Mexico:
  • Five dead, one missing and presumed dead, two survivors.
  • The plane was transporting a one-year-old child, who was among the victims.

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5. New Incentives for Self-Deportation

[03:03-03:29]

• Homeland Security now offers a $3,000 stipend, plus paid airfare, for immigrants who voluntarily leave via the CBP app before 2026.
• Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons notes a key exception:
  • Quote (Todd Lyons, 03:19): "If we're out there doing our mission and we encounter you, you're going to be arrested and lose the opportunity to not only stay in the United States but ever come back again.”
• Unpaid fines for late departures will be forgiven.
• Early self-deporters before New Year may later be eligible to return legally.

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6. Trump Responds to Epstein File Release

[03:34-03:46]

• About 100,000 pages of Jeffrey Epstein files released, much redacted.
• President Trump claims the media focus is a political distraction:
  • Quote (Donald Trump, 03:40): “What this whole thing is with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican Party has.”

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7. Campus Violence at Brown University

[03:51-04:10]

• Brown University places its campus police chief on leave after a tragic shooting leaves two students dead, nine injured.
• U.S. Department of Education opens investigation into possible violations of federal campus safety rules.
• Gunman Claudio Neves Valente was later found dead.

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8. Powerball Jackpot Nears Historic Levels

[04:10-04:26]

• Powerball jackpot swells to $1.7 billion after another drawing without a winner.
• Winning numbers from Monday: 3, 18, 36, 41, 54; Powerball: 7.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On new U.S. Navy “Trump Class” warships:

  • Donald Trump (01:36): “Just a counter to everybody. It's not China. We get along great with China... We just wanted peace through strength.”

• On self-deportation incentives:

  • Todd Lyons (03:19): "If we're out there doing our mission and we encounter you, you're going to be arrested and lose the opportunity to not only stay in the United States but ever come back again.”

• On Epstein files’ release:

  • Donald Trump (03:40): “What this whole thing is with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican Party has.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• U.S. pursues Venezuelan tanker & dark fleet: 00:02–00:47
• Federal judge on Venezuelan migrants: 00:47–01:12
• Trump’s Golden Fleet announcement: 01:12–01:50
• Texas plane crash: 02:31–03:03
• Self-deportation incentives: 03:03–03:29
• Epstein files reaction: 03:34–03:46
• Brown University shooting update: 03:51–04:10
• Powerball jackpot update: 04:10–04:26

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Conclusion

This brisk newscast covers high-profile U.S. military and legal maneuvers, humanitarian tragedy, immigration policy changes, and political intrigue—delivering fast updates in Fox News’ direct, assertive tone. Suitable for those seeking a succinct overview of major stories as of December 23, 2025.

Transcript

[Ted Lindner]

In pursuit of another tanker. I'm Ted Lindner, Fox News. The US Pursuing the third oil tanker in less than two weeks. Fox's Kevin Cork with the latest from Washington.

[Kevin Cork]

The Coast Guard's pursuit of a third sanctioned oil tanker near Venezuela comes as the administration intensifies its pressure campaign on Nicolas Maduro which includes a sweeping blockade of the waters off his country's coast targeting illicit oil shipments and so called dark fleet vessels. An administration official telling our Lucas Tomlinson the sanctioned dark fleet vessel is part of Venezuela's illegal sanctions evasion. It is flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order. Reuters Main Time is reporting that another official says that tanker is operating under sanctions.

[Ted Lindner]

Venezuela has accused the US of piracy and China called the seizures a violation of international law. U.S. southern Command confirming another strike on an alleged drug boat. They say the strike took place in the eastern Pacific with one male narco terrorist confirmed dead. At least 105 alleged narco traffickers have been killed in 29 known strikes since early September. Federal Judge James Boasberg ruling on Monday the Trump administration must allow court challenges for Venezuelan migrants that were sent to the notorious SICOT prison in El Salvador, either by providing them with court hearings or returning them to the U.S. president Trump announced the creation of the Golden Fleet, a series of warships to be officially named Trump Class, promising the largest, fastest, most powerful battleships ever built. The president asked if their construction is meant to be a counter to China's military.

[Donald Trump]

Just a counter to everybody. It's not China. We get along great with China. I have a great relationship with President Xi and not China. It's just everybody. You don't know who comes along. But we just wanted peace through strength. Hopefully we never have to use them.

[Ted Lindner]

The president made the announcement at his Mar a Lago estate in Palm beach alongside members of his war room cabinet. America's listening. Welcome back to FOX news.

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[Ted Lindner]

A medical plane on its way to Mexico reportedly crashed in Galveston Bay in Texas Monday. FOX 26 Houston's Angie Rodriguez with more.

[Angie Rodriguez]

According to the Mexican consulate here in Houston, five people are dead. One person was missing and is presumed to be dead and two people are the only survivors of this plane crash. We did know originally this was a medical flight for a one year old child that was on his way from here in the US To Mexico. He unfortunately was one of the victims.

[Ted Lindner]

The cause of the crash currently unknown. Department of Homeland Security announced Monday it's increasing its stipend for immigrants who self deport via the CBP home app. They'll get $3,000 on top of their flight home if they leave before 2026. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons on Fox's Hannity said. There's one exception to that rule.

[Todd Lyons]

If we're out there doing our mission and we encounter you, you're going to be arrested and lose the opportunity to not only stay in the United States but ever come back again.

[Ted Lindner]

DHS will also forgive any unpaid fines for failing to leave on time.

[Unnamed Fox News Reporter]

If they leave before the New year, those who self deport will be offered a chance to return to the United States.

[Ted Lindner]

President Trump weighing in on the release of roughly 100,000 pages of Epstein files.

[Unnamed Fox News Reporter]

Much of which was redacted.

[Donald Trump]

What this whole thing is with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican Party has.

[Unnamed Fox News Reporter]

The President speaking to reporters at Mar A Lago on Monday, Brown University placing.

[Ted Lindner]

Its campus police chief on leave as.

[Unnamed Fox News Reporter]

It reviews security policies following that tragic shooting in which a gunman killed two students and injured nine others at the Rhode Island University. The US Department of Education investigating whether Brown violated federal campus safety requirements. Authorities say gunman Claudio Neves Valente was found dead days later and the Powerball jackpot on the rise again. No one won the top prize Monday night in the drawing, sending the jackpot up to an estimated $1.7 billion for Wednesday night, Christmas Eve. The numbers drawn on Monday were 3, 18, 36, 41 and 54 with a Powerball of 7. I'm Ted Lindner, this is Fox.

[Angie Rodriguez]

Ainsley Earhart, thank you for joining me.

[Ted Lindner]

For the 52 episode podcast series the.

[Podcast Announcer]

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