5AM ET 12/04/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 5AM ET 12/04/2025 Newscast

Date: December 4, 2025
Host: Ted Lindner (Fox News)
Podcast: Fox News Hourly Update

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Overview

This episode delivers a concise rundown of major national and international news stories as of December 4, 2025. The main themes include a rare Israel-Lebanon diplomatic meeting, updates on a Pentagon leak investigation, political news involving a presidential pardon, national events, notable obituaries, health updates, and international commentary. The episode maintains a brisk, info-first tone consistent with Fox News’ hourly updates.

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News Highlights & Key Discussion Points

1. Israel-Lebanon Direct Talks (00:02)

• Event: For the first time in 25 years, a senior Israeli official met face-to-face with a senior Lebanese figure, without intermediaries.
• Participants:
  • Yuri Resnik (Israel’s Deputy Head of Foreign Policy)
  • Simon Khorram (Former Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S., known for opposing Hezbollah)
• Context: This meeting is significant against the backdrop of continued tension involving Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group in Lebanon.

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2. Pentagon Signal Chat Leak Investigation (00:33)

• Reporter: Jennifer Griffin
• Findings:
  • The Pentagon Inspector General's report on the "Signalgate" leak, involving confidential White House and military operation details, is now at Capitol Hill.
  • Key Conclusion: “Secretary Pete Hegseth created risk to operational security and his actions sharing operational details before the strike was complete on the commercially available app Signal ‘could have resulted in failed US Mission objectives and potential harm to US Pilots.’” (Jennifer Griffin, 00:43)
• Implications: An unclassified redacted version is expected to be released to the public.
• Notable Quote:
  • Jennifer Griffin summarizes, “...created risk to operational security...could have resulted in failed US Mission objectives and potential harm to US Pilots.” (00:43)

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3. Presidential Pardon for Henry Cuellar (01:06)

• Development: Former President Trump announced a “full and unconditional pardon” for Texas Democrat Congressman Henry Cuellar and his wife.
• Background: Previously indicted (May 2024) under the Biden Administration for money laundering, conspiracy, and alleged bribes totaling $600,000.
• Cuellar’s Response:
  • “Now we can get back to work. Nothing has changed. We will continue working hard.” (01:30)
• Next Steps: Cuellar is running for re-election as a Democrat.

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4. Obituaries

• Charles Shea (01:37): Decorated Native American veteran and D-Day medic, passed away at 101 years old.

  • Noted for heroism on Omaha Beach during WWII.

• Steve Cropper (03:40): Renowned guitarist (Booker T. & the MG’s), co-writer of “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay,” “In the Midnight Hour.”

  • Also played on “Green Onions,” “Soul Man”.
  • Died at age 84.

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5. NFL Week 14 Preview (03:01)

• Reporter: Joe Morgan
• Game: Detroit Lions vs. Dallas Cowboys, both vying for a wild card spot in the NFC.
  • “It doesn’t get much bigger than tonight’s matchup in Detroit. The 7-5 Lions and the 6-5-1 Cowboys kick off at 8:15 Eastern on Thursday Night Football...” (Joe Morgan, 03:08)
• Teams’ Recent Performance: Detroit has lost 3 of its last 5 games; Dallas is on a 3-game winning streak.

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6. Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting (03:40)

• Event: Annual ceremony in NYC, with comments from tourists visiting the city for a birthday celebration.
  • Quote: “First of all, it’s my wife’s birthday, so we came up here for about eight days… This was just another coincidence of cool things to do in New York City.” (03:49)
• Details: Tree lit daily from 5am-midnight through early January.

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7. Flu Cases on the Rise (04:39)

• CDC Update:
  • 5% week-over-week increase in positive flu tests.
  • Colorado and Louisiana move into “high” category for flu activity.
• Note: This is preceding the official start of winter.

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8. Iran’s Supreme Leader on Women’s Rights (04:51)

• Event: Ayatollah Khamenei uses social media to comment on women’s status:
  • Quote: “A woman [is] like a flower that must be cared for and protected.” (Paraphrased, 04:54)
• Context: Statement comes as the Iranian government steps up enforcement of Islamic dress codes for women.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Pentagon Leak:

  • “Secretary Pete Hegseth created risk to operational security and his actions sharing operational details... could have resulted in failed US Mission objectives and potential harm to US Pilots.”
    (Jennifer Griffin, 00:43)

• On Cuellar’s Pardon:

  • “Now we can get back to work. Nothing has changed. We will continue working hard.”
    (Rep. Henry Cuellar, 01:30)

• NFL Game Tease:

  • “It doesn’t get much bigger than tonight’s matchup in Detroit. The 7-5 Lions and the 6-5-1 Cowboys...”
    (Joe Morgan, 03:08)

• Christmas Tree Visitor:

  • “First of all, it’s my wife’s birthday, so we came up here for about eight days to celebrate her birthday...”
    (Attendee via Richard Jacovis, 03:49)

• Iranian Leader on Women:

  • “[Women are] like a flower that must be cared for and protected.”
    (Ayatollah Khamenei paraphrased, 04:54)

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• Israel-Lebanon Direct Talks: 00:02
• Pentagon Signal Chat Leak: 00:33
• Cuellar Pardon: 01:06
• Charles Shea Memorial: 01:37
• NFL Week 14 Preview: 03:01
• Rockefeller Center Lighting: 03:40
• Steve Cropper Obituary: 04:13
• Flu Update: 04:39
• Khamenei Comments: 04:51

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Final Notes

• The episode maintains a rapid-fire delivery with little editorializing, intended to provide quick, clear newscast-style updates.
• Obituaries and health news offer human interest and public service info alongside political and global updates.
• Notably, this broadcast includes rare historic developments (Israel-Lebanon), significant U.S. political stories, and cultural touchpoints (NFL, Rockefeller Center, music obituaries).

End of summary.

Transcript

[A]

Israel and Lebanon talk. I'm Ted Lindner, Fox News. For the first time in 25 years, a senior Israeli official met with a senior Lebanese figure directly with no intermediaries. This happened on Wednesday. Israel's deputy head of foreign policy Yuri Resnik meeting with Simon Khorram, a former Lebanese ambassador to the US Known for his opposition to the Lebanese Iran backed terror group Hezbollah. A new Pentagon inspector general's report reveals more details on the investigation into that signal chat leak earlier this year involving White House and military operations.

[B]

Fox's Jennifer Griffin that IG report has been delivered to Capitol Hill. According to well placed sources familiar with the inspector general report on Signalgate, the Pentagon acting inspector general after a months long investigation concluded Secretary Pete Hegseth quote, created risk to operational security and his actions sharing operational details before the strike was complete on the commercially available app Signal quote could have resulted in failed US Mission objectives and potential harm to US Pilots.

[A]

The Senate Armed Services Committees received the report and an unclassified redacted version expected to be made public later today. President Trump announcing a full and unconditional pardon for Texas Democrat Congressman Henry Cuellar and his wife. This comes after the Justice Department under former President Biden indicted the congressman and his wife in May of 2024 for money laundering, conspiracy and allegedly taking $600,000 in bribes to influence policy. Cuellar speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill and expressed gratitude and maintained that he did nothing wrong. Now we can get back to work. Nothing has changed. We will continue working hard following the pardon he filed to run for reelection as a Democrat. And Charles Shea, a decorated Native American veteran who was a 19 year old US army medic when he landed on Omaha beach on D Day and helped save lives, died Wednesday. He was 101. America's listening to Fox News.

[C]

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[A]

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Week 14 of the NFL season kicks off tonight from the Motor City Fox's Joe Morgan with a.

[D]

Preview. The Lions and Cowboys are battling for the final wild card spot in the nfc, so it doesn't get much bigger than tonight's matchup in Detroit. The 7, 5 Lions and the 651 Cowboys kick off at 8:15 Eastern on Thursday Night Football with both teams still alive in their respective divisions. It's also a matchup between two teams going in opposite directions after starting five two. Detroit has lost three of its last five games while Dallas is on a three game winning streak after dropping to three, five and one in week nine. Joe Morgan, Fox News, Rockefeller center.

[A]

In New York City holding its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony Wednesday night. Fox 5 New York's Richard Jacovis speaking with a couple from Austin, Texas about why they chose to attend the ceremony. First of all, it's my wife's birthday, so we came up here for about eight days to celebrate her birthday. And this was just another coincidence of cool things to do in New York City. The tree will be lit daily from 5am to midnight. It'll be on display through early January. And Steve Cropper, guitarist and member of Booker T. And the MGS has died. He co wrote classic songs including Sitting on the Dock of the Bay and In the Midnight Hour and played guitar on this hit Green Onions as well as on Soul man for both Sam and Dave and the Blues brothers. Cropper was 84 years old and flu cases are on the rise. The CDC saying that nationwide there's been a 5% week over week increase in positive flu tests. The two states, Colorado and Louisiana, have broken into the high category for flu activity. This says winter is still officially two weeks away and the leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, jumping on social media to explain how women are viewed in the Islamic Republic, likening a woman to a flower that must be cared for and protected. He made the comments a day after instructing the Iranian government to step up its enforcement of the Islamic dress code for women. I'm Ted Lindner. This is Fox.

[B]

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[D]

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