Fox News Hourly Update – 3AM ET, December 26, 2025

Host: Various FOX News Correspondents
Theme: A concise roundup of key U.S. and global news stories, including military operations, political moves, weather, and legal developments.

Main Themes

• U.S. military action against ISIS in Nigeria and Venezuela’s drug trade
• Severe winter weather warnings for the United States
• Political redistricting battles in Missouri
• Supreme Court ruling on National Guard deployment in Illinois

Episode Breakdown

1. U.S. Military Strike on ISIS in Nigeria

[00:03–00:49]

• Deborah Valentine reports that the U.S. has executed a military strike on ISIS targets in Nigeria following attacks on Christians.

• President Trump made a statement on Truth Social, emphasizing the operation was retaliation for the killing of Christians by ISIS.

• Key Details:

  • Trump promises more action if violence against Christians continues.
  • He credits the Department of War and U.S. military prowess.

• Notable Quote:

  “If they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay. And tonight there was.”
  —President Trump (as quoted by Madison Scarpino, 00:13)

2. U.S. Pressure on Venezuela’s Drug Trade

[00:49–01:16]

• Report by Madison Scarpino and Kevin Corke:

  • The Trump administration increases pressure on Venezuela by expanding U.S. military assets in the Caribbean.
  • Deployment includes special operations aircraft, cargo planes, and equipment targeting drug smuggling vessels.

• Key Insight:

  • Venezuelan government has criminalized U.S. sanctions but the U.S. is escalating counter-narcotics actions.

3. Severe Weather Across the U.S.

[01:16–01:51]

• News from Mike Emanuel:

  • Northeast: National Weather Service issues numerous winter storm watches; a snow and ice storm will impact at least 15 million people.
  • New York City: Forecast of 5-8 inches of snow.
  • Southern California: Heavy rainfall leads to flooding and mudslides in Los Angeles County.

• Memorable Line:

  “The number of winter storm watches are multiplying throughout the northeastern U.S.”
  —Mike Emanuel (01:30)

4. Redistricting Battles in Missouri

[02:58–03:44]

• Report by Jessica Rosenthal:

  • Republicans aim for 9 new GOP-leaning House seats nationally, with 1 in Missouri.
  • The ACLU of Missouri challenges the redistricting in court, citing 300,000 signatures to force a ballot question.
  • Redrawn maps stay in effect until signatures are validated, which may stretch beyond the next candidate filing period.

• Key Point:

  • Legal battles over voting districts could affect Missouri’s representation in upcoming elections.

5. Supreme Court Ruling on Trump’s Attempted National Guard Deployment

[03:44–04:57]

• Brooke Taylor Reports:

  • U.S. Supreme Court rejects Trump’s effort to send National Guard troops to Illinois after prior approval for 300 Texas Guards to Chicago.
  • The ruling affirms that Trump lacked the proper legal basis as regular troops hadn’t first been used for law enforcement.
  • Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson supports the decision, suggesting it also protects other cities.

• Notable Quote:

  “The decision doesn’t just protect Chicago, but other cities around the country.”
  —Mayor Brandon Johnson (as reported by Brooke Taylor, 04:47)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• U.S. Strikes ISIS in Nigeria: 00:03–00:49
• Venezuela Drug Trafficking Crackdown: 00:49–01:16
• Weather Updates – Winter Storms and Flooding: 01:16–01:51
• Redistricting Legal Dispute in Missouri: 02:58–03:44
• Supreme Court Blocks National Guard Deployment: 03:44–04:57

Tone & Style

• Direct and urgent: Reflecting the pace and style of broadcast news.
• Attribution: All quotes and opinions clearly tied to individuals or their spokespeople.
• Balanced national and global coverage: Mixing political, judicial, security, and weather news.

This summary captures the core developments covered in the FOX News Hourly Update for December 26, 2025 at 3 AM ET, providing context, key points, and notable statements for listeners and readers alike.