Fox News Hourly Update – 3PM ET 12/18/2025 Newscast

Date: December 18, 2025
Host: Lisa Brady, FOX News Podcasts
Episode Theme: Breaking national news updates, covering major developments in federal drug policy, a large Medicaid fraud scandal, court verdicts, local infrastructure concerns, and a quick Wall Street check.

Main Theme Overview

This episode features a concise roundup of top national stories, highlighting President Trump's move to reclassify marijuana, progress in a massive Minnesota fraud case, high-profile courtroom outcomes, and local concern over California water infrastructure amid fire risk. The tone is brisk, informative, and urgent, reflecting the fast-paced format of FOX News Radio’s hourly updates.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Marijuana Reclassification by Executive Order

• [00:03] President Trump signs an executive order supporting the reclassification of marijuana from Schedule 1 (same as heroin) to Schedule 3—a category for drugs with accepted medical use, like Tylenol with codeine.
  • "Marijuana reclassified... President Trump's goal. Just signing an executive order in support of reclassifying marijuana from Schedule 1... to a Schedule 3 drug like Tylenol deemed to have legitimate medical uses." – Lisa Brady [00:03]
• [00:18] Acknowledgement that the move has been long requested by patients suffering from severe medical conditions.
  • "For decades, this action has been requested." – Fox News Reporter [00:18]
  • "By American patients suffering from extreme pain, incurable diseases, aggressive cancers, seizure disorders, neurological problems and more." – Ainsley Earhardt [00:20]
• [00:29] The order does not legalize marijuana federally and follows a similar proposal from President Biden. The DEA review is ongoing.
  • "The new order would not legalize marijuana at the federal level." – Lisa Brady [00:29]
• [00:37] Opposition highlighted from Catholic advocacy groups and Republican lawmakers concerned about safety messaging and law enforcement implications.
  • "Catholic votes saying rescheduling cannabis would falsely signal it's safe and medically proven when it hasn't gone through FDA approval or long term safety studies." – Fox News Reporter [00:37]
  • "A handful of House and Senate Republicans... writing to the attorney general begging for the administration to think what this may mean for law enforcement." – Fox News Reporter [00:37]

2. National Emergency on Housing Considered

• [00:57] President Trump also considering declaring a national emergency to address housing affordability, aiming to help new buyers without impacting current property values.
  • "The president also just confirming he's still considering declaring a national emergency over housing, but wants to help more people buy homes without hurting property values for existing homeowners." – Lisa Brady [00:57]

3. Major Medicaid Fraud Scandal in Minnesota

• [01:12] U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson announces new charges in a growing fraud scandal: $18 billion in taxpayer funds lost to fraudulent claims across 14 state-run Minnesota programs.
  • "First Assistant U.S. attorney Joe Thompson now says that $18 billion in taxpayer money has been spent on at least 14 state run programs in Minnesota that have been flagged for fraud..." – Lisa Brady [01:12]
• [01:34] The fraud’s scale is called "staggering," with some of the stolen funds traced overseas to Kenya and Somalia.
  • "The magnitude of the fraud in Minnesota cannot be overstated. Staggering amounts of money that have been lost." – Narrator/Podcast Host [01:34]
  • "Saying some of these stolen money was sent overseas to Kenya and Somalia." – Joe Thompson [01:41]
• [01:45] New charges: six additional defendants charged—one pleading guilty; Governor Tim Walz initiates a statewide audit program.
  • "Six additional defendants now charged with one pleading guilty. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has announced a new statewide auditing program." – Lisa Brady [01:45]

4. Courtroom Updates

• Arizona Serial Killings Sentencing ([02:15])

  • Cleopas Cooksey Jr. sentenced to death for eight murders, including killing his own mother. Convicted on other counts, he continues to deny involvement despite physical evidence recovered by investigators.
  • "A man just sentenced to death in Arizona for a string of killings... Cleopas Cooksey Jr. Was found guilty of eight murders... Also convicted on other counts, he still denies killing anyone." – Lisa Brady [02:15]

• Not Guilty Verdict for New Jersey Mayor ([02:46])

  • Atlantic City Mayor Marty Smalls Sr. acquitted of all child abuse and witness tampering charges. Both he and his daughter testified with differing accounts; his wife faces similar charges and will be on trial next month.
  • "He’s found not guilty on all charges, endangering the welfare of a child, assault, making terroristic threats and witness tampering... His wife... faces similar charges and goes on trial next month." – Narrator/Podcast Host [02:46]

5. Local Infrastructure: LA Reservoir Repairs and Fire Risk

• [03:16] Public frustration erupts as the Santa Ynez reservoir, a critical water supply during fire season, is scheduled for prolonged repairs during peak wildfire risk due to Santa Ana winds.
  • "Frustration in LA over the timing of a reservoir repair." – Lisa Brady [03:16]
• [03:21] The repair of a damaged floating cover will require draining the reservoir for up to nine months; emergency measures involve installing a six-mile high-pressure hose line for water supply.
  • "The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power planning to replace the floating cover at the Santa Ynez reservoir... already the cover is showing damage again, prompting a plan to drain the reservoir for as long as nine months for the fix." – Ainsley Earhardt [03:21]

6. Market Update

• [04:03] Quick Wall Street report: Stocks remain up, but below earlier highs; Dow is up 106 points.
  • "Stocks remain higher, but not as high as earlier. The dow is up 106." – Lisa Brady [04:03]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Marijuana reclassified... President Trump's goal. Just signing an executive order in support of reclassifying marijuana from Schedule 1... to a Schedule 3 drug like Tylenol deemed to have legitimate medical uses." — Lisa Brady [00:03]
• "For decades, this action has been requested." — Fox News Reporter [00:18]
• "Catholic votes saying rescheduling cannabis would falsely signal it's safe and medically proven when it hasn't gone through FDA approval or long term safety studies." — Fox News Reporter [00:37]
• "The magnitude of the fraud in Minnesota cannot be overstated. Staggering amounts of money that have been lost." — Narrator/Podcast Host [01:34]
• "Frustration in LA over the timing of a reservoir repair." — Lisa Brady [03:16]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:03] Marijuana reclassification and federal response
• [00:57] National emergency on housing consideration
• [01:12] $18B Minnesota Medicaid fraud charges
• [02:15] Arizona serial killings sentencing
• [02:46] Not guilty verdict for Atlantic City mayor
• [03:16] LA reservoir repair during fire season
• [04:03] Wall Street market update

This brisk newscast delivers rapid, fact-focused updates with top federal, state, and local developments, offering listeners clear, direct information on high-impact current events.