5AM ET 12/08/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 5AM ET 12/08/2025 Newscast

Host: Ted Lindner (FOX News Podcasts)
Date: December 8, 2025

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Overview

This Fox News hourly newscast covers the latest overnight headlines from politics, international affairs, New York City, the economy, military controversies, and domestic incidents. The update spotlights President Donald Trump’s activities at the Kennedy Center, ongoing US-Ukraine diplomacy, ICE and immigration debates in New York City, shifts in gasoline prices, developments in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, scrutiny over a US military strike, and a racially charged incident at a Wisconsin Cinnabon.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump at the Kennedy Center – Board Restructure & Event Honorees

• Main Story:
  President Trump reorganized the Kennedy Center’s board and outlined new fundraising efforts aligned with his administration’s vision since January.
• Direct Quote:
  • “This is really a night of joy tonight because of what's happening with this building. It's going to be fantastic. When you see the end product, it's going to be better than it was new, and I think we'll celebrate that. But I will say that our country is doing really well.”
    — Donald Trump (00:18)
• Details:
  • The president said things are “going his way” regarding the center.
  • He joked about resigning if he didn’t perform well in office.
  • Honorees at the Kennedy Center included Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, the rock band Kiss, and Gloria Gaynor. (00:31)

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2. Ukrainian Negotiations Stalled – Trump Frustration

• Update:
  The Trump administration concluded another round of talks with Ukrainian negotiators in Florida with “no major progress.” Trump is openly disappointed with President Zelensky.
• Direct Quote:
  • “President Zelensky hasn't yet read the proposal. That was as of a few hours ago. His people love it, but he has it. Russia's fine with it.”
    — Donald Trump (00:56)
• Insight:
  Trump highlights lack of engagement from Ukraine’s leadership, and notes Russian acceptance.

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3. NYC Immigration & ICE – Contrasting Leadership Approaches

• Context:
  Following national conversation about ICE raids, in NYC Mayor Alex Zoram Mamdani issues a social media public advisory, while incoming Mayor Eric Adams promises cooperation with immigration enforcement.
• Notable Guidance:
  • “ICE cannot enter into private spaces like your home, school or private area of your workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge.”
    — Mayor Alex Zoram Mamdani (01:21)
• Contrast:
  Adams is taking a more collaborative stance with federal ICE, marking a departure from current mayoral policies.

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4. Economic Update – Drop in Gas Prices

• Summary:
  National gasoline prices have fallen.
• Expert Commentary:
  • “Gasoline prices dropped an impressive 8 cents per gallon in the past two weeks.”
    — Trilby Lumberg via Madeleine Rivera (01:47)
• Details:
  Average price for regular now sits at $3.08 per gallon nationwide. (01:52)

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5. Israel-Hamas Ceasefire – Second Phase Awaiting Hostage Remains

• International Affairs:
  Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says progress to a second phase of ceasefire is pending the return of final hostage’s remains; this next phase targets Hamas disarmament. (03:01)

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6. Controversy over U.S. Military Caribbean Strike

• Congressional Scrutiny:
  Some lawmakers urge the Pentagon to release footage of a controversial second strike on a suspected drug boat, which killed two survivors.
• Defense & Justification:
  • “My job was to say execute or don't... So I was satisfied with the strike.”
    — Pete Hegseth (via Lucas Tomlinson interview, 03:42)
  • “From what I understood then and what I understand now, I fully support that strike. I would have made the same call myself.”
    — Pete Hegseth (03:50)
• Note:
  Hegseth refuses to release the video despite Trump’s public support for its disclosure last week. (03:54)

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7. Congressman Henry Cuellar – Preemptive Pardon & Campaign Fallout

• Recent Action:
  President Trump issued a preemptive pardon to Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar, who is facing legal trouble, then criticized him on Truth Social after Cuellar’s announcement of a re-election bid.
• Cuellar’s Response:
  • “I'm a Democrat, probably one of the most, if not the most bipartisan Democrat and as I told some of my Republican friends on the House floor, I vote better than some of the Republicans.”
    — Rep. Henry Cuellar (04:01)
• Background:
  Cuellar and his wife are under indictment but maintaining a public campaign.

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8. Wisconsin Cinnabon Incident – Racist Outburst & Firing

• Incident:
  A Cinnabon employee in Ashawanon, Wisconsin was fired after being filmed making racist remarks (including use of the N-word) to a Black Somali couple.
• Aftermath:
  The employee admitted her actions and her racism on camera, with national coverage and public outcry.
• Corporate Response:
  Cinnabon denounced the employee’s behavior as not reflective of company values. (04:58)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This is really a night of joy tonight because of what's happening with this building.” — Donald Trump at the Kennedy Center (00:18)
• “President Zelensky hasn't yet read the proposal... Russia's fine with it.” — Trump on Ukraine talks (00:56)
• “ICE cannot enter into private spaces... without a judicial warrant signed by a judge.” — NYC Mayor Mamdani’s advice (01:21)
• “Gasoline prices dropped an impressive 8 cents per gallon in the past two weeks.” — Trilby Lumberg (01:47)
• “My job was to say execute or don't... I fully support that strike.” — Pete Hegseth on the Pentagon controversy (03:42)
• “I'm a Democrat, probably one of the most... bipartisan Democrat[s]... I vote better than some of the Republicans.” — Rep. Henry Cuellar (04:01)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Kennedy Center / Trump comments: 00:03 – 00:31
• Ukraine talks: 00:31 – 01:06
• NYC ICE operations / mayoral positions: 01:06 – 01:36
• Gas prices update: 01:47 – 01:52
• Israel-Hamas ceasefire / hostages: 03:01 – 03:25
• US military Caribbean strike: 03:25 – 03:54
• Rep. Cuellar pardon/campaign: 04:01 – 04:58
• Wisconsin Cinnabon incident: 04:58

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Conclusion

This brisk Fox News update packed in developments from the White House, global diplomacy, domestic policy, and headline-grabbing social incidents, reflecting both political maneuverings and the national mood as of early December 2025.

Transcript

[Ted Lindner]

The president and his glory. At the Kennedy Center, I'm Ted Lindner. Fox News. President Trump reorganized its board and began fundraising efforts after he took office in January to realign the Kennedy Center's vision. The president telling reporters Sunday it's all going his way.

[President Donald Trump]

This is really a night of joy tonight because of what's happening with this building. It's going to be fantastic. When you see the end product, it's going to be better than it was new, and I think we'll celebrate that. But I will say that our country is doing really well.

[Ted Lindner]

The president had joked he would resign if he didn't do well. Honorees included actor Sylvester Stallone and singer songwriter George Strait, as well as the rock band Kiss and singer Gloria Gaynor. The Trump administration finished another round of talks with Ukrainian negotiators in Florida over the weekend. No major progress has been made. The president talked about that as well at the Kennedy center and said he's disappointed with Ukrainian leader Zelensky.

[President Donald Trump]

President Zelensky hasn't yet read the proposal. That was as of a few hours ago. His people love it, but he has it. Russia's fine with it.

[Ted Lindner]

And the Trump administration finishing that round of talks on Saturday. Meantime, in New York City, in a social media video, Mayor Alex Zoram Mamdani reminds New Yorkers of their rights in case ICE agents begin operations there.

[President Donald Trump]

We can all stand up to ice. If you know your rights, if you encounter ice, these are the things that every New Yorker should know. First, ICE cannot enter into private spaces like your home, school or private area of your workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge.

[Ted Lindner]

Incoming Mayor Eric Adams promising to cooperate with immigration enforcement operations. When President Trump took office in January and the national average price of regular gas fell over the last couple of weeks, industry analyst Trilby Lumberg of the.

[Madeleine Rivera]

Lumberg survey gasoline prices dropped an impressive 8 cents per gallon in the past two weeks.

[Ted Lindner]

With regular grade now at 3:08. America's listening to Fox News.

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[Ted Lindner]

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Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu says Israel and Hamas are expected to soon move into the second phase of a ceasefire. But first, Hamas has to return the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza. The second phase addresses the disarming of Hamas. Members of Congress want the Pentagon to release the full video of a second strike on an alleged drug boat that killed the survivors as Pete Hegseth continues to face some.

[Madeleine Rivera]

Heat. Fox's Madeleine Rivera Hegseth sat down with our Lucas Tomlinson yesterday at the Reagan National Defense Forum. Lucas pressed Hegseth about that follow on strike in September that killed two survivors on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean. Hegseth is standing by the second strike that he says Admiral Mitch Bradley.

[President Donald Trump]

Oversaw. My job was to say execute or don't.

[Ted Lindner]

Execute. So I was satisfied with the strike.

[President Donald Trump]

Criteria. From what I understood then and.

[Ted Lindner]

What I understand now, I fully support that strike. I would have made the same call.

[Madeleine Rivera]

Myself. Hexath, though, is not committing to releasing the video of this second strike, even though President Trump said last week he supports the footage being.

[Ted Lindner]

Released. Just a few days after President Trump issued a preemptive pardon for embattled Congressman Henry Cuellar, the president lashed out at the Texas Democrat on his truth social platform. Cuellar announced he is running for reelection as a Democrat. That prompted President Trump to blast him for, in his words, continuing to work with the same radical left scum Cuellar. Speaking of Fox, I'm a Democrat, probably one of the most, if not the most bipartisan Democrat and as I told some of my Republican friends on the House floor, I vote better than some of the Republicans. Cuellar and his wife Imelda, indicted last year on several counts, and a woman fired from her job on the counter to Wisconsin Cinnabon franchise in Ashawanon after making a string of racist comments to a black Somali couple, even throwing the N word into the mix as the couple filmed her warning her that she was going to lose her job. The Cinnabon worker admitting on camera she's a racist while making obscene gestures. Cinnabon saying the ex employees actions do not reflect the values of Cinnabon. I'm Ted.

[Madeleine Rivera]

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[Ted Lindner]

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