5AM ET 12/23/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 5AM ET 12/23/2025 Newscast

Date: December 23, 2025
Host: Ted Lindner (FOX News Podcasts)
Episode Overview: This episode provides a fast-paced roundup of major overnight news, including U.S. anti-narcotics military actions, escalating oil sanctions on Venezuela, a new Trump military announcement, a tragic medical plane crash, changes in U.S. immigration policies, reactions to released Epstein files, and updates on a university shooting investigation.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Military Actions Against Drug Trafficking Boats

• Summary: The U.S. Southern Command confirmed another lethal strike on an alleged narco-trafficking boat in the Eastern Pacific on Monday night.
  • Impact: Since September, at least 105 alleged narco traffickers have been killed in 29 strikes.
  • Quote:
    Ted Lindner at 00:04: "U.S. southern Command confirming another strike on an alleged drug boat on Monday night. ... one male narco terrorist confirmed dead."
• The U.S. Coast Guard is also pursuing a third sanctioned oil tanker near Venezuela.
  • This is part of a broader blockade targeting "dark fleet" vessels evading sanctions.
  • Quote:
    Kevin Cork at 00:30: “The sanctioned dark fleet vessel is part of Venezuela's illegal sanctions evasion. It is flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order.”

2. U.S.-Venezuela Oil Tensions & International Reaction

• Action: The U.S. escalates pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, seizing ships believed to be smuggling oil.
  • Venezuela accuses the U.S. of "piracy"; China calls the actions a violation of international law.
  • Ted Lindner at 01:00: “Venezuela has accused the US of piracy and China called the seizures a violation of international law.”

3. Trump Announces New Battleship "Golden Fleet"

• Event: President Trump announces creation of a new line of warships, the "Trump Class Golden Fleet."
  • The ships are designed to be the “largest, fastest, most powerful battleships ever built.”
• Purpose: Framed as not specifically targeting China but for general "peace through strength."
  • Quote:
    Donald Trump at 01:19: "It's not China. We get along great with China... We just wanted peace through strength. Hopefully we'd never have to use them."
  • Announcement took place at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach (01:35).

4. Powerball Jackpot Update

• Update: The Powerball jackpot grows to an estimated $1.7 billion after no winner in Monday night’s drawing.
  • Winning numbers were: 3, 18, 36, 41, 54 (Powerball 7). (01:35)

5. Medical Plane Crash in Texas

• Incident: A medical plane en route to Mexico crashed in Galveston Bay, Texas.
  • Details: Five confirmed dead, one missing (presumed dead), two survivors.
  • The flight was transporting a 1-year-old child, who died in the crash.
  • Quote:
    Angie Rodriguez at 02:24: "Originally this was a medical flight for a one year old child... he unfortunately was one of the victims."
  • Cause of the crash is currently unknown.

6. Immigration Policy Changes: Self-Deportation Incentives

• Policy: The Department of Homeland Security announced increased financial incentives ($3,000 plus flight home) for immigrants who self-deport via the CBP Home app before 2026.
  • Quote:
    Ted Lindner at 02:58: “They'll now get $3,000 on top of their flight home if they leave before 2026.”
  • Exception: If apprehended before self-deporting, they lose the right to return.
  • Quote:
    Todd Lyons at 03:07: “...if we encounter you, you're going to be arrested and lose the opportunity to not only stay in the United States but ever come back again.”
  • DHS will also forgive unpaid fines for timely leavers and offer a chance to return.

7. Trump Responds to Epstein File Release

• Event: Nearly 100,000 pages of highly redacted Epstein files released.
  • Trump’s Reaction: Frames the release as distraction from Republican Party success.
  • Quote:
    Donald Trump at 03:30: “What this whole thing is with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican Party has.”

8. Brown University Shooting Investigation

• Update: Campus police chief placed on leave following a shooting (two dead, nine injured).
  • U.S. Department of Education investigates whether Brown violated campus safety laws.
  • Suspect Claudio Neves Valente was found dead days later.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On U.S. show of force in the Pacific:
  Donald Trump at 01:19: “...we just wanted peace through strength. Hopefully we'd never have to use them.”

• On new self-deport stipend program:
  Todd Lyons at 03:07: “If we're out there doing our mission and we encounter you, you're going to be arrested and lose the opportunity to not only stay in the United States but ever come back again.”

• On the Epstein file release as political distraction:
  Donald Trump at 03:30: “What this whole thing is with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican Party has.”

---

Time Stamped Segment Highlights

• 00:02 – U.S. drug boat strike report
• 00:24 – Oil tanker pursuit, U.S.-Venezuela tensions
• 01:00 – Venezuela and China responses
• 01:19 – Trump’s “Golden Fleet” announcement
• 01:35 – Powerball update
• 02:18 – Texas medical plane crash details
• 02:51 – Immigration self-deport stipend changes
• 03:07 – Enforcement warning for immigrants (Todd Lyons)
• 03:30 – Trump’s response to Epstein files
• 03:45 – Brown University shooting, police chief on leave

---

Episode Tone

The report maintains a brisk, urgent broadcast news tone, moving quickly through major national and international stories with a focus on official statements and government action. Brief quotations are used to provide immediacy and anchor the narrative to commentary by leaders and officials. Each topic is presented without editorializing, matching the straightforward, direct style characteristic of FOX radio newscasts.

---

This structured summary captures the main news, quotes, and timing, making it an effective and comprehensive briefing for listeners who missed the episode.

Transcript

[Ted Lindner]

Another boat strike. I'm Ted Lindner, Fox News. U.S. southern Command confirming another strike on an alleged drug boat on Monday night. They say the strike took place in the eastern Pacific with one male narco terrorist confirmed dead. At least 105 alleged narco traffickers have been killed in 29 known strikes since early September. The US pursuing the third oil tanker in less than two weeks. Fox's Kevin Cork with more.

[Kevin Cork]

The Coast Guard's pursuit of a third sanctioned oil tanker near Venezuela comes as the administration intensifies its pressure campaign on Nicolas Maduro which includes a sweeping blockade of the waters off his country's coast targeting illicit oil shipments and so called dark fleet vessels. An administration official telling our Lucas Tomlinson the sanctioned dark fleet vessel is part of Venezuela's illegal sanctions invasion. It is flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order. Reuters Main Time is reporting that another official says that tanker is operating under sanctions.

[Ted Lindner]

Venezuela has accused the US of piracy and China called the seizures a violation of international law. President Trump announced in creation of the Golden Fleet, a series of warships to be officially named Trump Class, promising the largest, fastest, most powerful battleships ever built. The president asked if their construction is meant to be a counter to China's military.

[Donald Trump]

Just a counter to everybody. It's not China. We get along great with China. I have a great relationship with President Xi. We and not China, it's just everybody. You don't know who comes along. But we just wanted peace through strength. Hopefully we'd never have to use them.

[Ted Lindner]

The president making the announcement at his Mar A Lago estate in Palm Beach. And the Powerball jackpot on the rise again. No one won the top prize in Monday night's drawing. That sends the jackpot up to an estimated $1.7 billion for Wednesday night. The numbers drawn Monday night, 3, 18, 36, 41 and 54 with a Powerball of 7.

[Fox News Anchor]

America's listening to Fox News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

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

[Podcast Narrator]

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 podcasts.

[Fox News Anchor]

A medical plane on its way to.

[Ted Lindner]

Mexico reportedly crashed in Galveston Bay in Texas Monday. FOX 26 Houston's Angie Rodriguez with more.

[Angie Rodriguez]

According to the Mexican consulate here in Houston, five people are dead. One person was missing and is presumed to be dead. And two people are the only survivors of this plane crash. We did know originally this was a medical flight for a one year old child that was on his way from here in the US To Mexico. He unfortunately was one of the victims.

[Fox News Anchor]

The cause of the crash currently unknown.

[Ted Lindner]

The Department of Homeland Security announcing Monday it's increasing its stipend for immigrants who.

[Fox News Anchor]

Self deport via the CBP home app.

[Ted Lindner]

They'll now get $3,000 on top of.

[Fox News Anchor]

Their flight home if they leave before 2026.

[Ted Lindner]

Acting ICE director Todd Lyons on Fox's.

[Fox News Anchor]

Hannity said is one exception to the rule.

[Todd Lyons]

If we're out there doing our mission and we encounter you, you're going to be arrested and lose the opportunity to not only stay in the United States but ever come back again.

[Fox News Anchor]

DHS will also forgive any unpaid fines for failing to leave on time. If they leave before the new year, those who self deport will be offered a chance to return to the United States. President Trump weighing in on the release of roughly 100,000 pages of Epstein files, much of which was redacted.

[Donald Trump]

What this whole thing is with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican Party has.

[Fox News Anchor]

The president speaking on Monday to reporters at Mar A Lago in South Florida and Brown University placing its campus police chief on leave as it continues to review security policies following that tragic shooting in which a gunman killed two students and injured nine others at the Rhode Island University. The U Department of Education is investigating whether Brown violated federal campus safety requirements. Authorities say the gunman, Claudio Neves Valente, was found dead days later. I'm Ted Lindner and this is Fox News.