5AM ET 11/26/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update

Episode: 5AM ET 11/26/2025 Newscast
Host: Ted Lindner (A), FOX News Podcasts
Date: November 26, 2025

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Episode Overview

This early morning edition brings updates on the busy Thanksgiving travel season, U.S. efforts towards peace in Ukraine, congressional scrutiny over alleged funds misused in Minnesota, and new policies at national parks. It captures the most pressing headlines as Americans prepare for the holiday, with key political, international, and public policy developments.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thanksgiving Travel Surge

• Record Numbers Traveling:
  • Over 81 million people are expected to travel during Thanksgiving week, including air, road, and rail travelers.
• Air Travel Highlights:
  • [00:13] Matt Finn (B): “The Trump administration says a record high 31 million people will travel through the air this entire week. And the FAA says today will be the busiest day of the week with an estimated 52,000 flights.”
• Transportation System Stress:
  • Transportation Secretary Duffy reassures that “there is solid staffing at air traffic control towers, an improvement from when the government reduced flights and staffing during the 43 day shutdown.”
  • Duffy urges Congress for $20 billion to upgrade the “outdated” air traffic control technology and warns of possible weather disruptions, especially in Seattle and the Midwest.
• National Gas Prices and Road Travel:
  • The national average gas price is “a little over 3 dollars a gallon.”
  • [00:58] “73 million drivers expected to be on the road this week, 1.2 million passengers taking trains.”

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2. Ukraine War – Ongoing Peace Efforts

• Diplomatic Progress:
  • Progress is reported towards a potential deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war after talks in Geneva.
  • [01:11] (C): “We’ve seen the European allies also very engaged on these peace talks. But there are still questions about what a deal is eventually going to look like.”
• Leadership Meetings On Hold:
  • President Trump will not meet with President Zelensky “this holiday weekend,” though such a meeting had been rumored. Instead, the Army Secretary will handle Ukraine relations for now.
  • [01:25] “Ukraine’s leader had wanted to sit down with the president as soon as possible, including over the holiday. But as Trump says, he’s going to have his army secretary handle Ukraine for the moment.”
• On-the-Ground Impact:
  • Russian airstrikes continue, with “the latest death count at seven people so far.”

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3. Papal Visit

• Pope Leo the 14th’s First Foreign Trip:
  • [01:47] “Pope Leo the 14th headed to Turkey and Lebanon this week for his first official foreign trip as pontiff. He heads to Turkey for the first leg of the trip on Thursday.”

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4. Minnesota Funding Controversy

• Taxpayer Funds Allegedly Diverted to Terror Group:
  • Minnesota Republicans demand answers after reports that “taxpayer dollars were ending up in the hands of Somali terror group Al Shabaab.”
  • [02:40] Jeff Paul (E): “They’re calling for an investigation. Four Minnesota Congress members addressing the state’s U.S. attorney demanding answers after a report claimed taxpayer dollars were ending up in the hands of Somali terror group Al Shabaab.”
  • House Majority Whip Tom Emmer commented:
    • [02:53] “If you’re paying taxes for services you expect and things you expect your state government to provide, those taxes should not be going to a terrorist group in a foreign country.”
• Citation and Allegations:
  • The report, published by City Journal (affiliated with the Manhattan Institute), alleges that funds for state social programs might have been diverted and sent abroad to Al Shabaab.
  • [03:04] “The report alleges funding that was supposed to go to state programs... was being stolen.”

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5. Legal and Political Headlines

• FBI & DOJ Developments:
  • President Trump denies planning to replace FBI Director Kash Patel, stating Patel “is doing a good job.”
  • A federal judge dismissed criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Tish James, both Trump critics.
  • The DOJ plans to appeal these rulings, “which found prosecutor Lindsey Halligan was improperly appointed and may even try to refile the cases.”

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6. National Park Service Fee Changes

• New Fee for International Visitors:
  • [03:22] “Foreign visitors to US national parks will have to fork over a bit of cash to enjoy the great outdoors. The National Park Service announcing it’s going to start charging international tourists an extra $100.”
  • The move responds to “severe budget cuts and staff reductions” and takes effect January 1, 2026, impacting 11 national parks.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Matt Finn on Record Air Travel
  • [00:13] “The FAA says today will be the busiest day of the week with an estimated 52,000 flights.”
• Transportation Secretary Duffy on System Issues
  • [00:26] “There are still system wide problems with the country's current air traffic control system. ... Urging Congress to fund another $20 billion to replace the outdated technology.”
• House Majority Whip Tom Emmer on Funding Allegations
  • [02:53] “Those taxes should not be going to a terrorist group in a foreign country.”
• On National Parks Fee Increase
  • [03:22] “Foreign visitors to US national parks will have to fork over a bit of cash to enjoy the great outdoors. ... going to start charging international tourists an extra $100.”

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Thanksgiving Travel Update – 00:02 to 00:58
• Ukraine Peace Talks & Russian Strikes – 00:58 to 01:47
• Papal Visit News – 01:47 to 02:00
• Minnesota Funding Report Controversy – 02:25 to 03:22
• FBI & DOJ Updates – 03:22 to 03:46
• National Park Service Fee Announcement – 03:46 to 04:28

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This summary provides a comprehensive snapshot of the news, preserving the urgency and tone of the original broadcast, with direct attributions and exact quotes for clarity and context.

Transcript

[A]

A busy travel week continues. I'm Ted Lindner. FOX News. Thanksgiving now just a day away. And experts estimate that over 81 million people will be traveling this week for Thanksgiving. Fox's Matt Finn with the latest.

[B]

The Trump administration says a record high 31 million people will travel through the air this entire week. And the FAA says today will be the busiest day of the week with an estimated 52,000 flights.

[A]

20.

[B]

Transportation Secretary Duffy now says there is solid staffing at air traffic control towers, an improvement from when the government reduced flights and staffing during the 43 day shutdown. But Duffy says there are still system wide problems with the country's current air traffic control system. And he's urging Congress to fund another $20 billion to replace the outdated technology. Duffy is also warning travelers that weather could cause headaches in places like Seattle and across the Midwest. The Trump administration is also touting the national average for a gallon of gas sitting at a little over 3 dol a gallon.

[A]

73 million drivers expected to be on the road this week, 1.2 million passengers taking trains. Progress being made towards a deal that could end the war between Russia and Ukraine after US Officials and envoys from Kyiv met in Geneva, Switzerland.

[C]

We've seen the European allies also very engaged on these peace talks. But there are still questions about what a deal is eventually going to look like. And President Trump says he does not plan to sit down one on one with President Zelensky this holiday weekend. There was the possibility of that happening now that is on hold. Overnight, the Russians carried out new airstrikes on Ukraine's capital. The latest death count at seven people so far. The attack not appearing to impact where the US Stands on the current views of these talks. Ukraine's leader had wanted to sit down with the president as soon as possible, including over the holiday. But as Trump says, he's going to have his army secretary handle Ukraine for the moment.

[A]

And Pope Leo the 14th headed to Turkey and Lebanon this week for his first official foreign trip as pontiff. He heads to Turkey for the first leg of the trip on Thursday. America's listening to FOX News.

[D]

Hi, I'm here to pick up my son, Milo. There's no Milo here who picked up my son from school.

[A]

Streaming only on Peacock.

[D]

I'm gonna need the name of everyone that could have a connection. You don't understand. It was just the five of us. So this was all planned. What are you gonna do? I will do whatever it takes to get my son back. I honestly didn't see this coming. These nice people killing each other.

[A]

All her fau. A new series streaming now only on Peacock. Minnesota Republicans demanding answers after a report suggests several millions of dollars in public funding may have been funneled to a terror group. Fox's Jeff Paul with more.

[E]

They're calling for an investigation. Four Minnesota Congress members addressing the state's U.S. attorney demanding answers after a report claimed taxpayer dollars were ending up in the hands of Somali terror group Al Shabaab.

[A]

If you're paying taxes for services you expect and things you expect your state government to provide, those taxes should not be going to a terrorist group in a foreign country.

[E]

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer is referencing the report written by urban policy magazine City Journal, which is published by a conservative think tank, the Manhattan Institute. Citing unnamed sources. The report alleges funding that was supposed to go to state programs to help with housing and feeding people was being stolen.

[A]

Without detailing any figures, the article suggests some of the stolen funding was sent to Somalia, where it ended up providing aid to the Al Qaeda affiliated terror group known as Al Shabaab. President Trump denying published reports Tuesday that he's weighing whether to replace FBI Director Kash Patel. The president saying that Patel is doing a good job. A federal judge dismissing criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Tish James, both critics of former President Trump. But the Justice Department says the fight is not over. It plans to appeal the rulings, which found prosecutor Lindsey Halligan was improperly appointed and may even try to refile the cases. And foreign visitors to US national parks will have to fork over a bit of cash to enjoy the great outdoors. The National Park Service announcing it's going to start charging international tourists an extra $100. The news coming as national parks struggle with severe budget cuts and staff reductions. The change is going to take effect on January 1, 2026, impacting 11 national parks. I'm Ted Lindner and this is FOX News.

[D]

Hey, Ryan Reynolds here wishing you a very happy half off holiday because right now Mint Mobile is offering you the gift of 50% off unlimited. To be clear, that's half the price, not half the service. Mint is still premium unlimited wireless, a great price. So that means half day. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow 135 gigabytes of network busy taxes and fees extra. See mintmobile.

[A]

Com.