Fox News Hourly Update: 5AM ET 12/09/2025 Newscast

Date: December 9, 2025
Host: Ted Lindner (FOX News Podcasts)
Episode Theme:
A fast-paced roundup of major overnight developments in U.S. politics, domestic policy, and international affairs, focusing on federal aid for farmers impacted by trade policy, health care subsidy negotiations, new state terrorism designations, a major fraud scandal, and the growing Powerball jackpot.

Federal Aid for Farmers Amid U.S.-China Trade Tensions

[00:03 – 00:55]

• Announcement of New Federal Aid

  • U.S. farmers, especially soybean and other crop growers, will receive a one-time direct payment from a $12 billion aid package to offset losses from the trade war with China.
    • Jared Halpern (White House): “Soybean and other crop growers will get a one time direct payment as part of $12 billion in agriculture aid announced by President Trump.” [00:13]
    • President Trump: “Farmers are an indispensable national asset, part of the backbone of America.” [00:22]

• Impact of U.S.-China Tariffs

  • Ongoing tariffs have significantly reduced U.S. agriculture exports, especially soybeans, to China.
    • Jared Halpern: “But the tit for tat tariffs between the US and China led to huge cut US Agriculture exports, with China refusing to buy soybeans for much of the year.” [00:27]

• Presidential Remarks and Future Aid

  • President Trump claims U.S. soybeans are superior and pledges further relief if needed.
    • President Trump: “Our soybeans, I told this to President Xi. Our soybeans are more nutritious than competitors.” [00:37]
    • Jared Halpern: “China has resumed soybean exports from the U.S., but President Trump says he'll sign off on additional relief for farmers if needed.” [00:45]

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Subsidy Extension Debate

[00:55 – 01:43]

• Upcoming Deadline and Congressional Divide

  • Lawmakers face a looming deadline to extend ACA subsidies or find an alternative. The issue continues to vex Congress with a potential test vote on a bill to renew “Obamacare money.”
    • Chad Pergrim (Capitol Hill): “Senate Democrats plan a test vote Thursday on a bill to renew Obamacare money. That issue was central to the government shutdown, but most Republicans reject that.” [01:05]

• Positions of Both Parties

  • ACA tax credits are set to expire end-of-year. Bipartisan coalition pushing for reforms, emphasizing the need for bipartisan buy-in. Republicans call for a two-year extension while seeking a broader alternative, whereas Democrats want a clean, unchanged extension.
    • Chad Pergrim: “There's a push from a coalition of bipartisan lawmakers for a separate plan. It would reform Obamacare. They say any package must have buy in from both sides.” [01:16]
    • Ted Lindner: “President Trump and congressional Republicans failed to dismantle Affordable care Act in 2017. The GOP has floated a proposal to extend the subsidies for two more years while figuring out a broader alternative. But Democrats want a clean extension without any changes to the law.” [01:43]

Florida Designates Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR as Terrorist Organizations

[03:02 – 03:42]

• State Action and Political Backdrop

  • Florida joins Texas in designating the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist organizations.
    • Ashley Strohmeyer: “Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made the announcement on X posting. Florida agencies are hereby directed to undertake all lawful measures to prevent unlawful activities by these organizations, including denying privileges or resources to anyone providing material support.” [03:14]

• Group Responses and National Context

  • CAIR denies links to the Muslim Brotherhood and dismisses the move as politically motivated.
    • Ashley Strohmeyer (paraphrasing CAIR): “CAIR has denied ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group with offshoots that include Hamas, and says in a statement, like Greg Abbott In Texas, Ron DeSantis is an Israel first politician.” [03:35]

Minnesota Fraud Scandal and Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Response

[03:42 – 04:32]

• FBI, Court System Under Scrutiny

  • Rep. Ilhan Omar faces questions about a fraud scheme; she shifts focus onto federal authorities failing to prevent illicit funds from reaching Somalia and the terrorist group Al Shabaab.
    • Mike Tobin: “Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is on the defense. First she said that defrauded programs lack sufficient guardrail to stop it. And then she went on to say that if some of these stolen tax dollars made their way to Somalia and the terror group Al Shabaab… that is the fault of the courts and the FBI for not stopping it.” [03:55]
    • Ilhan Omar: “If there was a linkage in that, the money that they had stolen going to terrorism, then that is a failure of the FBI and our court.” [04:16]

• Ongoing Investigation

  • Analysts suggest Rep. Omar may have had some exposure to the scandal, but she has not been directly linked. 87 individuals, mostly from the Minnesota Somali community, have been charged.
    • Mike Tobin: “Analysts with whom we spoke say it's unlikely that Omar would not have had some exposure to the corruption.” [04:27]
    • Ted Lindner: “Minnesota Democratic Congresswoman Elon Omar has not been directly linked to the scheme. 87 people have been charged in the fraud, most of them from the Minnesota Somali community.” [04:32]

Powerball Jackpot Update

[04:32 – 04:58]

• Current State of the Jackpot
  • No jackpot winner from Monday night's drawing; Powerball now up to $930 million for Wednesday.
    • Ted Lindner: “No big winner in Monday night's Powerball jackpot draw means the jackpot continues to grow for Wednesday night now up to at least $930 million.” [04:32]
  • A match five ticket (worth $1 million) was sold in Florida.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On U.S. Farmers and Trade:

  • President Trump (regarding China): “Our soybeans, I told this to President Xi. Our soybeans are more nutritious than competitors.” [00:37]

• On ACA Extension:

  • Chad Pergrim: “More Health care has vexed Congress for years. This week is no different.” [01:05]
  • Ted Lindner: “Democrats want a clean extension without any changes to the law.” [01:43]

• On Florida Terrorism Designations:

  • Ashley Strohmeyer (paraphrasing CAIR): “Ron DeSantis is an Israel first politician.” [03:35]

• On Minnesota Fraud Scandal:

  • Ilhan Omar: “If there was a linkage in that, the money that they had stolen going to terrorism, then that is a failure of the FBI and our court.” [04:16]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Federal Aid for Farmers: 00:03 – 00:55
• ACA Subsidies Debate: 00:55 – 01:43
• Florida Designates CAIR & Muslim Brotherhood: 03:02 – 03:42
• Minnesota Fraud Scandal & Ilhan Omar Response: 03:42 – 04:32
• Powerball Jackpot Update: 04:32 – 04:58

Summary:
This Fox News Hourly Update captures a dynamic snapshot of American current affairs in December 2025, from White House policy moves impacting farmers and perennial health care debates in Congress, to controversial state terrorism designations and a high-profile fraud investigation. The headlines are punctuated by political soundbites and pointed commentary, offering a succinct yet vivid window into the national conversation at the close of 2025.