3PM ET 12/18/2025 Newscast

Summary

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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.

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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.

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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]

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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]

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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

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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.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

Marijuana reclassified on Lisa Brady, FOX News. That's President Trump's goal. Just signing an executive order in support of reclassifying marijuana from Schedule 1, the same category as heroin, to a Schedule 3 drug like Tylenol deemed to have legitimate medical uses.

[Fox News Reporter]

For decades, this action has been requested.

[Ainsley Earhardt]

By American patients suffering from extreme pain, incurable diseases, aggressive cancers, seizure disorders, neurological problems and more.

[Lisa Brady]

The DEA has been reviewing reclassification also proposed by President Biden. The new order would not legalize marijuana at the federal level.

[Fox News Reporter]

Not everyone is thrilled with the idea. 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. A handful of House and Senate Republicans are also wanting the White House to reconsider. They've been writing to the attorney general begging for the administration to think what this may mean for law enforcement.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Mark Meredith 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. New charges in a Minnesota fraud scandal.

[Joe Thompson]

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 with five new charges on top of dozens of others against suspects accused of stealing via Medicaid programs funding housing, autism and other services.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

The magnitude of the fraud in Minnesota cannot be overstated. Staggering amounts of money that have been lost.

[Joe Thompson]

Saying some of these stolen money was sent overseas to Kenya and Somalia.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jeff Manasso. Six additional defendants now charged with one pleading guilty. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has announced a new statewide auditing program. America is listening to Fox News.

[Ainsley Earhardt]

This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Jesus, A listening experience that will provide.

[Joe Thompson]

Hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Lisa Brady]

A man just sentenced to death in Arizona for a string of killings over several weeks in 2017 around metro Phoenix. 43 year old Cleopas Cooksey Jr. Was found guilty of eight murders in September, including his own mother and stepfather. Also convicted on other counts, he still denies killing anyone. Investigators say Cooksey was wearing one victim's necklace when he was arrested, had keys from another victim and a gun used in several of the killings. A New Jersey mayor is found not guilty of endangering and abusing his teenage daughter.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Atlantic City Mayor Marty Smalls Sr. Was accused of beating his now 17 year old daughter two years ago, once with a broom until she was unconscious and later of trying to influence her testimony. He's found not guilty on all charges, endangering the welfare of a child, assault, making terroristic threats and witness tampering. He and his daughter both took the stand. She described the alleged abuse. He denied it and says he never hit her with a broom. He was defending himself and she fell and hit her head. His wife, Laquetta, small Atlantic City public school superintendent, faces similar charges and goes on trial next month.

[Lisa Brady]

Chris Foster, FOX News Frustration in LA over the timing of a reservoir repair.

[Ainsley Earhardt]

Tis the season of Santa Ana winds again in Southern California. Hot, dry winds now through March to fan existing fires. And yet a critical water reservoir for Pacific Palisades could be taken offline again in January. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power planning to replace the floating cover at the Santa Ynez reservoir that was famously offline when fire hydrants ran dry as the horrific New Year's blaze burned over 7,000 homes and businesses. Emergency repairs were completed in June, but already the COVID is showing damage again, prompting a plan to drain the reservoir for as long as nine months for the fix. In the meantime, installing a six mile high pressure hose line from tanks in.

[Lisa Brady]

Topanga Fox's Therese Crowley an hour to the close. On Wall street, stocks remain higher, but not as high as earlier. The dow is up 106. Elisa Brady, Fox News.