5AM ET 12/15/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update

Episode: 5AM ET 12/15/2025 Newscast
Host: Ted Lindner, FOX News Podcasts
Date: December 15, 2025

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Overview

This episode delivers a concise update on breaking and developing news stories worldwide, with coverage spanning Hollywood, college campuses, international incidents, economic outlooks, and U.S. holiday sentiments. Listeners receive firsthand reporting and official statements on significant current events—the death of a Hollywood figure, a university shooting, an act of terrorism in Australia, the state of Hanukkah celebrations, and U.S. holiday economics.

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Key News Segments & Insights

1. Death Investigation at Rob Reiner's Home

• [00:03 – 00:57]
  • Hollywood is mourning as tributes pour in for actor and director Rob Reiner.
  • Incident Details:
    • Two bodies found at Reiner’s Los Angeles home after a medical callout at 3:30pm Sunday.
    • LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton confirmed a death investigation but withheld identities, pending the LA County Coroner.
  • No suspects sought at this phase; the investigation is ongoing:
    • Quote: “At this time, the Los Angeles Police Department is not seeking anyone as a suspect or as a person of interest or in any other manner. And we will not be doing that until we conduct our investigation and we move forward.” — LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton [00:34]
  • Public Response:
    • Official statements released by LA Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom, who call it “a tragic loss.”
    • “While police won’t confirm the identities, both LA Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom have released statements honoring Reiner and his wife, calling the situation, quote, a tragic loss.” — Tanya J. Powers [00:45]

2. Brown University Shooting

• [00:57 – 01:45]
  • Mass shooting on Brown University campus leaves 2 dead, 9 injured; occurred during finals inside an engineering building.
  • Police detained and later released a person of interest due to lack of evidence.
    • Over 40 rounds fired; the community is left shaken.
    • All classes and finals postponed.
    • Quote: “Police in Providence, Rhode island, saying they'll release the person of interest detained following that mass shooting at Brown University that occurred on Saturday.” — Marion Rafferty [01:05]
  • Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee extends community condolences.

3. U.S. Gas Prices Decline

• [01:45 – 01:59]
  • AAA reports U.S. national average at $2.91/gallon, down 17 cents from a month ago.

4. Sydney Hanukkah Terror Attack

• [02:59 – 03:46]
  • Attackers identified as Sajid and Navid Akram (father and son) targeted a Jewish Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach, Sydney.
    • 15 people killed, including a Holocaust survivor and a 10-year-old girl.
    • The attack is labeled "pure evil," anti-Semitism, and terrorism by Australian PM Anthony Albanese.
      • Quote: “What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of anti Semitism, an act of terrorism on our shores.” — PM Anthony Albanese (reported by Jonathan Savage) [03:29]
    • Albanese promises to further tighten Australia’s already strict gun laws.
    • Sajid Akram killed by police; Navid Akram in hospital.

5. Hanukkah Celebrations in Washington, D.C.

• [03:46 – 04:09]
  • Jewish leaders light the National Menorah with White House participation.
  • Emphasis on unity in challenging times.
    • Quote: “From the president of the United States and the first lady and the vice president of the United States and the second lad. I would like to wish you all a wonderful Hanukkah. Let's celebrate the year. It is a difficult and tough day for what we've lost.” — Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick [03:51]

6. U.S. Holiday Shopping Struggles

• [04:09 – 04:55]
  • Associated Press survey reveals many Americans struggling with rising holiday costs: higher prices affecting food, utilities, and gifts.
  • Consumers are dipping into savings, seeking discounts, and using more credit.
  • Quote: “Almost everything costs more this holiday shopping season, from groceries to electricity to especially the items on your holiday gift list. And you're not alone.” — [Reporter, 04:15]
  • 68% still feel pessimistic about the U.S. economy, despite White House (President Trump) assurances there is no inflation and the economy is strong.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• LAPD Death Investigation

  • “At this time, the Los Angeles Police Department is not seeking anyone as a suspect or as a person of interest or in any other manner.”
    — Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton [00:34]

• Australian PM Albanese on Sydney Attack

  • "What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of anti Semitism, an act of terrorism on our shores."
    — Prime Minister Anthony Albanese [03:29]

• Hanukkah Unity Message

  • “I would like to wish you all a wonderful Hanukkah... It is a difficult and tough day for what we've lost.”
    — Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick [03:51]

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Important Timestamps

• Rob Reiner Death Investigation: [00:03 – 00:57]
• Brown University Shooting Update: [00:57 – 01:45]
• Gas Prices Decline: [01:45 – 01:59]
• Sydney Terror Attack: [02:59 – 03:46]
• National Menorah Lighting: [03:46 – 04:09]
• Holiday Shopping/Economy Report: [04:09 – 04:55]

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Summary

This Fox News update provides concise yet thorough reporting on urgent stories—from tragedy in Hollywood and violence on a campus to global anti-Semitic terrorism and domestic economic concern. With clear, direct coverage and statements from officials, listeners receive both factual updates and the emotional tone of these challenging times, capped by a brief reflection on unity and resilience during Hanukkah.

Transcript

[A]

Tributes to actor and director Rob Reiner. I'm Ted Lindner. FOX NEWS Those tributes coming in from Hollywood as Los Angeles police say a death investigation is underway at the home owned by the actor and director fox's Tanya J. Powers with more.

[B]

Los Angeles fire officials found the two bodies inside the home after they'd been called for a medical aid request around 3:30 Sunday afternoon. LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton confirmed the death investigation but would not identify the bodies, only telling reporters that positive IDs would come from the LA County Coroner's Office.

[C]

At this time, the Los Angeles Police Department is not seeking anyone as a suspect or as a person of interest or in any other manner. And we will not be doing that until we conduct our investigation and we move forward.

[B]

While police won't confirm the identities, both LA Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom have released statements honoring Reiner and his wife, calling the situation, quote, a tragic loss. TANYA J.

[A]

Powers, FOX NEWS Meantime, a shooting that killed two people and injured nine at Brown University having police still searching for the suspect. Fox's Marion Rafferty with more on that.

[D]

Police in Providence, Rhode island, saying they'll release the person of interest detained following that mass shooting at Brown University that occurred on Saturday. Two people were killed in that shooting on Saturday afternoon in an engineering building as they were taking final exams. Nine others were also injured. Police are saying they arrested a person of interest Sunday morning and that they weren't looking for anyone else at that time. But then they held a news conference earlier Sunday evening saying that that person of interest who was detained will now be released citing a lack of evidence. Investigators say the shooter fired more than 40 rounds. All classes and final exams at Brown have been postponed.

[A]

Rhode Island's Governor Daniel McKee stating the community's keeping the victims and their families in their thoughts. Gas prices continue to slide. AAA saying the national average 291A gallon, 17 cents less than a month ago. America's listening to Fox News.

[E]

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[A]

Safe. Police have named two men who shot 15 people dead at a Jewish event on an iconic Australian beach. Fox's Jonathan Savage with more father.

[F]

And son Sajid and Navid Akram targeted Jews marking Hanukkah on Sydney's Bondi Beach. Among their victims, a 10 year old girl and a survivor of the Holocaust. People have gathered to mourn and lay flowers. What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of anti Semitism, an act of terrorism on our shores. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. He's promised to tighten Australia's already stringent gun laws. The attackers are said to have pledged allegiance to isis. The older man, Sajid Akram, was killed by police. His son is in the hospital. Jonathan Savage, FOX.

[A]

News. Jewish leaders light the national menorah in Washington, D.C. to begin.

[C]

Hanukkah. From the president of the United States and the first lady and the vice president of the United States and the second lad. I would like to wish you all a wonderful Hanukkah. Let's celebrate the year. It is a difficult and tough day for what we've.

[A]

Lost. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. A survey shown the holiday season has not been quite so merry for American.

[G]

Shoppers. You've probably noticed it. Almost everything costs more this holiday shopping season, from groceries to electricity to especially the items on your holiday gift list. And you're not alone. That's what roughly half of Americans, a survey by the Associated Press Newark center for Public Affairs Research. Many say they're dipping into savings, scouring for bargains, delaying purchases and using credit cards a lot more than they have in years past. The White House disagrees. President Trump insisting there is no inflation and that the US economy is booming. 68% of respondents to the survey, however, continue to say that the US Economy is.

[A]

Poor. I'm Ted Lindner. This is FOX.

[B]

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

[A]

Of Jesus, a listening experience that will.

[C]

Provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever.

[A]

Told. Listen and follow now at foxnewspodcasts.com or wherever you listen to.