5AM ET 12/17/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update (5AM ET 12/17/2025) – Summary

Overview

This episode of the Fox News Hourly Update delivers a concise roundup of key national headlines. The lead stories include the murder charges against Nick Reiner (son of famed director Rob Reiner), President Trump’s scheduled White House address, ongoing developments in the Brown University killings, an expanded travel ban, record Powerball jackpot, and music chart news as the holidays approach.

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Major Stories and Discussion Points

1. Nick Reiner Charged with the Murders of Rob Reiner and Wife

• Location: Brentwood, Los Angeles
• Key Details:
  • Nick Reiner, age 32, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances (multiple murders and use of a deadly weapon—a knife).
  • He is being held without bail and awaits arraignment after medical clearance.
  • Potential Sentence: Life without parole or the death penalty, though no decision on the latter has been made.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “He also faces a special allegation that he personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, that being a knife.” – Kristen Goodwin (00:22)
  • “No decision at this point has been made with respect to the death penalty.” – Nathan Hockman (00:45)
  • “Not revealing any details on evidence but saying Nick Reiner was arrested without incident in Los Angeles.” – Kristen Goodwin (00:50)
• Timestamps: 00:03 – 00:58

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2. President Trump to Address the Nation

• Announcement: President Trump will deliver remarks from the White House at 9pm ET tonight.
• Details:
  • Trump announced the address on Truth Social, stating it’s been a "great year" and "the best is yet to come."
  • The precise content of the speech isn’t disclosed yet.
• Quote:
  • “It’ll happen at 9pm Eastern time. The president announcing the speech on Truth Social Tuesday, writing that it’s been a great year for our country and that the best is yet to come. But he didn’t say exactly what he plans to discuss.” – Ted Lindner (00:58)
• Timestamps: 00:58 – 01:19

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3. Update: Brown University Killings

• Latest Developments:
  • Providence authorities have released new surveillance video of a person of interest, though the individual's face is not visible.
  • Police believe the individual was scouting the neighborhood near Brown University as early as 10:30am on the day of the shooting.
  • Description: 5'8", stocky build, wearing a dark green and black jacket, and a mask.
  • Investigators are hopeful someone will recognize the person’s gait.
• Quote:
  • “There are some new visuals, but none show the face of this person. Person of interest still… Investigators now believe he was casing out this neighborhood next to Brown as early as 10:30am the morning of the shooting.” – CB Cotton (01:19)
• Timestamps: 01:19 – 01:53

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4. Powerball Hits $1.25 Billion

• Details:
  • Tonight’s Powerball jackpot is at $1.25 billion, making it the second-largest this year and among the top 10 ever.
  • Lump sum cash value: At least $572.1 million.
• Quote:
  • “The jackpot is now up to at least $1.25 billion. It makes it the second largest Powerball prize this year and one of the biggest and top 10 of all time.” – Ted Lindner (02:58)
• Timestamps: 02:58 – 03:27

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5. Trump Expands Travel Ban

• Details:
  • The administration is expanding the travel ban from 12 to 32 countries, with partial restrictions on 15 (most in Africa).
  • Now includes holders of documents from the Palestinian Authority.
  • The expansion blamed on “widespread corruption, fraud and unreliable documentation.”
  • Comes after an Afghan national involved in a shooting in DC was admitted under a humanitarian program.
• Quotes:
  • “The president’s proclama expands the administration’s existing 12 country travel ban to five new countries and also to people with documents from the Palestinian Authority. It also adds partial restrictions to 15 countries, most of them in Africa.” – Jackie Heinrich (03:27)
  • “The White House cited widespread corruption, fraud and unreliable documentation and records from those countries as the cause.” – Jackie Heinrich (03:42)
• Timestamps: 03:27 – 03:58

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6. Christmas Music Charts: ‘Last Christmas’ Hits #1

• Details:
  • Wham!’s “Last Christmas” has, for the first time, topped the Billboard Global 200, with 95.3 million streams.
  • Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” continues as the longest-running #1 in Billboard Hot 100 history, now at 20 weeks.
• Quotes:
  • “Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’... reaching the top of the Billboard Global 200 for the first time. The 1984 classic racked up 95.3 million streams, #1 worldwide.” – Monica DeLuca (04:14)
  • “Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’...the longest running number one in Billboard history. The song landed its record 20th week atop a different chart, the Hot 100.” – Monica DeLuca (04:27)
• Timestamps: 04:14 – 04:56

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Notable Moments and Highlights

• The somber headline: The arrest and charging of Nick Reiner for the murder of his parents, high-profile Hollywood figures, led the update, with legal specifics and procedural details.
• Presidential tease: President Trump’s address, highly anticipated but vague in content, signaled possible important policy or campaign news (00:58).
• Ongoing manhunt: The Brown University case reflected advances in police investigation—video surveillance and suspect profiling—even when facial identity remains undisclosed (01:19).
• Holiday jackpot fever: Powerball excitement underscored a national moment, with local lottery sales likely to surge (02:58).
• Policy impact: The travel ban’s expansion continued to be a contentious national security topic (03:27).
• Holiday spirit: Pop culture enthusiasts got a dose of cheer with the ongoing popularity of classic Christmas hits (04:14).

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Nick Reiner Charged with Murder: 00:03 – 00:58
• President Trump’s Scheduled Address: 00:58 – 01:19
• Update on Brown University Killings: 01:19 – 01:53
• Powerball Jackpot: 02:58 – 03:27
• Travel Ban Expansion: 03:27 – 03:58
• Music Chart Holiday News: 04:14 – 04:56

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Transcript

[Ted Lindner]

Charges for Rob Reiner's son. I'm Ted Lindner. FOX News officials in LA announcing those charges and the murders of director and actor Rob Reiner and his wife on Tuesday. Fox's Kristen Goodwin with more from Southern California and Los Angeles, Louisiana County District.

[Nathan Hockman]

Attorney Nathan Hockman says Nick Reiner faces two counts of first degree murder with.

[Kristen Goodwin]

A special circumstance of multiple murders. He also faces a special allegation that he personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, that being a knife.

[Nathan Hockman]

The 32 year old who is being held without bail, accused of fatally stabbing his parents in their Brentwood home. Hockman noting he'll be arraigned after a medical clearance, adding the charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.

[Kristen Goodwin]

No decision at this point has been made with respect to the death penalty.

[Nathan Hockman]

Not revealing any details on evidence but saying Nick Reiner was arrested without incident in in Los Angeles, Kristin Goodwin, FOX News.

[Ted Lindner]

President Trump planning an address from the White House tonight. It'll happen at 9pm Eastern time. The president announcing the speech on Truth Social Tuesday, writing that it's been a great year for our country and that the best is yet to come. But he didn't say exactly what he plans to discuss. And authorities in Providence released a new video of the person of interest in the Brown University killings.

[CB Cotton]

There are some new visuals, but none show the face of this person. Person of interest still, we are learning that investigators now believe he was casing out this neighborhood next to Brown as early as 10:30am the morning of the shooting. Providence police are calling new enhanced video of the person of interest. He's described as someone 5, 8 with a stocky build. He's got a dark green and black jacket and he's wearing a mask. So again, we can't get that clear view of his face. But officials are still hoping that someone will recognize his gait.

[Ted Lindner]

Fox's CB Cotton, America's listening to FOX News.

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[Ted Lindner]

SimpliSafe. Do you have your Powerball tickets for tonight's drawing? Well, the jackpot is now up to at least $1.25 billion. It makes it the second largest Powerball prize this year and one of the biggest and top 10 of all time. If you win, it's a cash prize of at least $572.1 million. Good luck. The Trump administration adding 20 countries to its travel ban Fox's Jackie Heinrich at the White.

[Jackie Heinrich]

House. The president's proclama expands the administration's existing 12 country travel ban to five new countries and also to people with documents from the Palestinian Authority. It also adds partial restrictions to 15 countries, most of them in Africa. The White House cited widespread corruption, fraud and unreliable documentation and records from those countries as the cause. And it comes after the administration pledged to crack down following the shooting of two National Guard soldiers by the White House by an Afghan.

[Ted Lindner]

National. The Afghan was allowed into the US Under a program, but reportedly struggled to accommodate to his new life in Washington state. Music lovers are feeling the Christmas spirit now with just a week to go till Christmas Eve. Fox's Monica DeLuca, Wham's Last Christmas.

[Monica DeLuca]

Is the number one song in the world, reaching the top of the Billboard Global 200 for the first time last Christmas. The 1984 classic racked up 95.3 million streams, 1 worldwide. The second on that global list, Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is yous is the longest running number one in Billboard history. The song landed its record 20th week atop a different chart, the Hot 100, which consists of the most played US singles, while the Billboard Global 200 ranks the world's most popular songs based on global streaming. Monica DeLuca, Fox News and I'm Ted.

[Ted Lindner]

Lindner. This is FOX.

[Nathan Hockman]

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

[Ainslie Earhart]

Of Jesus, a listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to.