3PM ET 12/19/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 3PM ET 12/19/2025 Newscast

Host: Paul Stevens (FOX News)
Date: December 19, 2025

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Episode Overview

This concise newscast delivers rapid-fire updates on key national and international stories at 3PM ET. Major topics include the Trump administration's Venezuela policy, a break in the Brown University shooting investigation, new pharmaceutical price deals, Canadian anti-terror arrests, a massive federal fraud case in Minnesota, Singapore's new anti-scam penalties, and a snapshot of Wall Street.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump White House Defends Venezuela Policy

(00:02 – 00:31)

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly defended the administration’s aggressive measures against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
• The U.S. categorized the Maduro regime as a "narco terrorist organization" based on grand jury evidence, not political rhetoric.
• U.S. military strikes targeted suspected drug-running boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, drawing criticism.

Notable Quote:

“This allegation, this claim that the Maduro regime is a narco terrorist organization is not on the basis of political talk or speculation. It is on the basis of evidence provided to a grand jury in the Southern District of New York that returned an indictment.”
— Marco Rubio (00:17)

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2. Break in Brown University Shooting Case

(00:31 – 01:26)

• Police apprehended the suspect in last weekend's deadly Brown University shooting after a tip from a homeless man led investigators to a rental car and a storage facility in New Hampshire.
• The suspect, Claudio Nieves Valente, died by suicide; multiple firearms and a satchel were found at the scene.
• Forensic evidence linked Valente’s vehicle to two crime scenes; he is also a suspect in the killing of an MIT professor.

Notable Quote:

“That crucial tip, believe it or not, it came from a homeless man at Brown University who had an interaction with the suspected shooter… [which] then led investigators to this storage facility in New Hampshire where the suspected shooter turned the gun on himself.”
— Nate Foy (00:46)

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3. Trump Administration Policy & Business Updates

(01:26 – 01:59)

• Major drug companies agreed to lower some medication prices for Medicaid and cash-paying customers.
• New safety-driven rule: Mexican train crews may only operate up to 10 miles inside the U.S. after rail inspections raised concerns.

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4. Canadian Anti-Terrorism Arrests

(02:31 – 03:14)

• Police in Toronto and Peel made three arrests linked to failed kidnappings targeting Jewish victims.
• The accused face charges spanning weapons offenses, kidnapping, sex assault, hate crimes, and terrorism.
• Authorities seized firearms and evidence of extremist, anti-Semitic motivations; suspects due in court next month.

Notable Quote:

“Investigators found firearms, ammunition, high capacity magazines and evidence their alleged crimes were motivated by extremism and anti-Semitism.”
— Jeff Manasso (02:56)

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5. Massive Fraud Alleged in Minnesota Welfare Programs

(03:14 – 03:41)

• Federal prosecutors say almost half of $18 billion in federal funds for 14 Minnesota welfare programs may have been stolen since 2018.
• Front companies provided no services, allegedly used funds for luxury spending and international travel.

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6. Singapore Implements Harsh Penalties for Scammers

(03:41 – 04:22)

• Singapore will introduce mandatory caning (six to 24 strokes) for scam syndicate members and recruiters starting December 30.
• Money-laundering offenses linked to scams will face up to a dozen strokes, plus prison and fines.
• Move aims to deter a rising wave of fraud.

Notable Quote:

“The Home Affairs Ministry said the enhanced punishment ensures that our criminal laws remain effective, fair and responsive to emerging challenges.”
— CJ Papa (04:12)

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7. Quick Financial Update

(04:22)

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 282 points late in the trading day.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Marco Rubio’s defense of the Venezuela policy provided rare direct government language about narco-terror designations. (00:17)
• Nate Foy’s story on the homeless tipster highlighted unusual investigative breakthroughs. (00:46)
• Jeff Manasso underscored the extremism and anti-Semitic motivations in the Canadian arrests. (02:56)
• CJ Papa stressed Singapore’s belief in harsh justice as a fraud deterrent. (04:12)

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Noteworthy Timestamps

• 00:02 — Begin: Paul Stevens introduces news and Rubio's defense of Venezuela policy
• 00:17 — Marco Rubio quote on narco-terrorist designation
• 00:46 — Nate Foy reports break in Brown University case
• 01:26 — Policy shifts: medication pricing, Mexican train crews
• 02:31 — Canadian police may have foiled terror attack
• 02:56 — Details on the Toronto, Peel joint investigation and charges
• 03:14 — $9B in MN welfare fraud alleged
• 03:41 — Singapore rolls out mandatory caning for scams
• 04:22 — Wall Street update: Dow up 282

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Tone

Direct, urgent, fact-focused with brief human interest and government voice clips. Stories are delivered quickly and succinctly, typical of hourly network news updates.

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This summary covers all critical news and notable voices from the Fox News Hourly Update for 3PM ET, December 19, 2025.

Transcript

[Paul Stevens]

Defending a controversial policy. I'm Paul Stevens, Fox News. Secretary of State Marco Rubio using his year end news conference today to defend the Trump White House's aggressive stance in dealing with Venezuela and its leader Nicolas Maduro.

[Marco Rubio]

This allegation, this claim that the Maduro regime is a narco terrorist organization is not on the basis of political talk or speculation. It is on the basis of evidence provided to a grand jury in the Southern District of New York that returned an indictment.

[Paul Stevens]

Maritime strikes by the US Military aimed at alleged drug running boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific have been highly criticized by some police locating the suspect accused in last weekend's deadly shooting at Brown University. They say thanks to a tip from a homeless man.

[Nate Foy]

That crucial tip, believe it or not, it came from a homeless man at Brown University who had an interaction with the suspected shooter and he was able to help lead investigators to the rental car that he was driving, which then led to a clear picture and the name of the suspect, as well as his financial records, which then led investigators to this storage facility in New Hampshire where the suspected shooter turned the gun on himself. They don't know exactly how long he was dead for. An autopsy will be done to determine that. But investigators found Claudio Neves Valente with guns and a satchel near his body. They also found evidence in his car parked nearby that matched the two crime scenes.

[Paul Stevens]

Fox's Nate Foy in Salem, New Hampshire, Claudio Nieves Valente, also suspected to be connected to the fatal shooting of an MIT professor. President Trump and more. Major drug companies announcing deals today to lower medication prices for the federal government's Medicaid program and for those who pay in cash. The Trump White House also announcing that Mexican train crews may only operate up to 10 miles inside the U.S. they say after recent railroad inspections raised safety concerns. America is listening to FOX News.

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[Paul Stevens]

Police in Canada saying they may have thwarted terror attacks.

[Jeff Manasso]

Police in Toronto and neighboring Peel, Canada, say a joint investigation into two separate kidnapping attempts has led to three arrests and dozens of charges. The suspects, Walid Khan, Osman Azizov and Fahid Sadat accused of weapons charges, attempted kidnapping sex assault and hate crimes in the targeting of Jewish victims. Khan also faces terror charges, we're told inside their homes, investigators investigators found firearms, ammunition, high capacity magazines and evidence their alleged crimes were motivated by extremism and anti Semitism. The men are expected in court in Toronto next month. Jeff Manasso, FOX News.

[Paul Stevens]

Federal prosecutors alleging that about half of roughly $18 billion in federal money supporting 14 Minnesota run programs since 2018 may have been stolen. First Assistant U.S. attorney Joe Thompson alleging that companies were created to provide no services while pocketing federal money for inter international travel, luxury vehicles and lavish lifestyles. Singapore going to a primitive method to publish to punish rather scam artists.

[CJ Papa]

The government says scammers will now face mandatory caning December 30th under changes to criminal law to deter surging fraud cases. Under the changes, members of scam syndicates along with recruiters are among those who will face six to 24 strokes of the cane for their illegal activity. Plus, anyone found to be involved in laundering money earned from a scam could also face up to a dozen strokes. The parliament stepped in last month by strengthening penalties that already include imprisonment and fines. The Home Affairs Ministry said the enhanced punishment ensures that our criminal laws remain effective, fair and responsive to emerging challenges. CJ Papa, FOX News about an hour.

[Paul Stevens]

Left in the trading day on Wall street, the dow up to 82. I'm Paul Stevens. This is FOX News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

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

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