5AM ET 12/26/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 5AM ET 12/26/2025

Overview:
This episode, hosted primarily by Debra Valentine and the FOX News reporting team, covers breaking headlines from Christmas Day and the early hours of December 26, 2025. The main themes include U.S. military action against ISIS in Nigeria, diplomatic efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine, Pope Leo XIV’s Christmas message, major weather events in California and New York, and the record-breaking Powerball jackpot.

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Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. U.S. Military Strikes ISIS in Nigeria

[00:03 – 00:57]

• Summary:
  The United States launched deadly airstrikes on ISIS sites in Nigeria on Christmas Day. This military response follows the ongoing persecution and killing of Christians in the country by ISIS.

• Presidential Actions & Statements:

  • President Trump acted after warning the terrorists to stop.
  • On Truth Social, he posted:

    “I have previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay. And tonight there was.” (Donald J. Trump, [00:17])

  • Secretary of War Pete Hegseth echoed the administration’s resolve on X:

    “The president was clear last month, the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. The Department of War is always ready. So ISIS found out tonight on Christmas. More to come.” (Pete Hegseth, [00:28])

• Diplomatic Pressure:

  • The U.S. is discussing the situation with Nigerian officials and has threatened to cut off aid if the violence continues.

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2. Ukraine Peace Negotiations

[00:57 – 01:36]

• Summary:
  On Christmas, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held “a very good conversation” with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

• Key Points:

  • Peace plan discussions are active, with Zelensky stating there are “good ideas that can work toward a shared outcome and the lasting peace.” ([01:13])
  • President Trump has prioritized ending Russia’s invasion, but an agreement has not yet been reached.

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3. Pope Leo XIV’s Christmas Plea for Ukraine

[01:36 – 01:55]

• Memorable Moment:
  During Christmas Mass, Pope Leo XIV issued an urgent call for peace in Ukraine:

  “May the clamor of weapons cease and may the parties involved with the support and commitment of the international community find the courage to engage in sincere, direct and of respectful dialogue.” (Pope Leo XIV, [01:42])

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4. Severe Weather in the U.S.

• California Deluge
  [02:16 – 02:55]

  • Southern California was hit with intense rainfall causing at least three deaths, including a 64-year-old man in San Diego.
  • Firefighters performed several rescues, such as saving a man trapped in an RV in Sunland via helicopter.
  • Rain totals:
    • Over 2.5 inches downtown LA
    • 5+ inches in the San Fernando Valley
    • 12+ inches at San Gabriel Dam
  • Quote:

    “Fire crews affected several rescues in and around Los Angeles, including a man who was trapped in an RV in Sunland… lifted out of a creek by helicopter.” (Ainsley Earhart, [02:23])

• Northeast Snowstorm
  [02:55 – 03:29]

  • NYC is under a winter storm warning, expecting 5–8 inches of snow Friday night into Saturday morning.
  • Ice storm warnings extended in western Pennsylvania.
  • Travel disruptions anticipated for millions.
  • Quote:

    “We’re calling for 5 to 8 inches of snow… Ice storm warnings have been upgraded across parts of western PA… air travel will be a nightmare.” (Jane Menar, [03:05])

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5. Record Powerball Jackpot Hit

[03:29 – 04:09]

• Summary:
  The Powerball had a record-breaking run of 46 drawings before a $1.8 billion jackpot was finally won on Christmas Eve.
  • The winning ticket was sold at a Murphy USA gas station in Cabot, Arkansas.
  • Winner faces the choice between $1.8 billion in annual payments over 29 years or a lump sum of $835.9 million.
  • Quote:

    “Whoa, Arkansas, what a winning night… jackpot ticket was sold at a Murphy USA gas station in the city of Cabot…” (Jeff Paul, [03:43])

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Notable Quotes

• President Donald J. Trump ([00:17]):
  “I have previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay. And tonight there was.”

• Secretary of War Pete Hegseth ([00:28]):
  “The president was clear last month, the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. The Department of War is always ready. So ISIS found out tonight on Christmas. More to come.”

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ([01:13]):
  “There are good ideas that can work toward a shared outcome and the lasting peace.”

• Pope Leo XIV ([01:42]):
  “May the clamor of weapons cease and may the parties involved with the support and commitment of the international community find the courage to engage in sincere, direct and of respectful dialogue.”

• FOX Weather’s Jane Menar ([03:05]):
  “We’re calling for 5 to 8 inches of snow Friday night into early Saturday morning… Ice storm warnings have been upgraded… air travel will be a nightmare.”

• Jeff Paul ([03:43]):
  “Whoa, Arkansas, what a winning night… jackpot ticket was sold at a Murphy USA gas station in the city of Cabot…”

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Episode Timeline

| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|----------------------------------------------| | 00:03–00:57 | U.S. Strikes ISIS in Nigeria | | 00:57–01:36 | Ukraine Peace Negotiations | | 01:36–01:55 | Pope’s Christmas Message for Peace | | 02:16–02:55 | California Deluge and Storm Response | | 02:55–03:29 | NYC/Northeast Snowstorm Alert | | 03:29–04:09 | Powerball Jackpot Winner in Arkansas |

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This newscast delivers bracing headlines with a tone of urgency and gravitas, staying focused on global conflict, U.S. foreign policy, severe weather, and a dash of lottery excitement to round out the updates.

Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

Striking ISIS. I'm Debra Valentine, Fox News. The U.S. launches deadly military strikes on ISIS sites in Nigeria on Christmas Day due to the killing of Christians.

[Kevin Yoretsky]

President Trump taking the action due to the persecution and killing of Christians in that country. The president writing on Truth Social that quote, I have previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay. And tonight there was Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posting on X that the president was clear last month, the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. The Department of War is always ready. So ISIS found out tonight on Christmas. More to come. The US Government has been discussing the issue with the Nigerian government threatening to cut off aid to the country if the situation is not fixed. Kevin Yoretsky, FOX News.

[Debra Valentine]

Negotiations Christmas day to end Russia's war in Ukraine.

[Ryan Schmelz]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he and Ukrainian leaders had a very good conversation with President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son in law and unofficial adviser Jared Kushner. The Ukrainian leader says they discussed certain substantive details of the ongoing work toward a peace plan saying quote, the there are good ideas that can work toward a shared outcome and the lasting peace. President Trump has made it a priority to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but so far all sides have been unable to come to an agreement. In Washington, Ryan Schmelz, Fox News.

[Debra Valentine]

Pope Leo XIV calls for peace in Ukraine during Christmas Mass.

[Kevin Yoretsky]

May the clamor of weapons cease and may the parties involved with the support and commitment of the international community find the courage to engage in sincere, direct and of respectful dialogue.

[Debra Valentine]

America's listening to FOX News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the.

[Jane Menar]

52 episode podcast series the Life of.

[Ryan Schmelz]

Jesus, a listening experience that will provide.

[Kevin Yoretsky]

Hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told.

[Ryan Schmelz]

Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Debra Valentine]

A deluge in southern California with LA getting hit especially.

[Ainsley Earhart]

There have been reports of three storm related deaths including a 64 year old man in San Diego who was hit by a falling tree Wednesday morning. Fire crews affected several rescues in and around Los Angeles, including a man who was trapped in an RV in Sunland. He had to be lifted out of a creek by helicopter. Southern California rainfall totals in the last two days have varied from just over two and a half inches downtown to more than five inches in the San Fernando Valley. That's in the northern part of the city of LA all the way up to over 12 inches at the San Gabriel Dam in the mountains northeast of Pasadena. Jessica Rosenthal, FOX News.

[Debra Valentine]

The New York City region bracing for a post Christmas snowstorm expected to impact travel on the roadways and in the air.

[Jane Menar]

A winter storm warning now in effect for New York City where we're calling for 5 to 8 inches of snow Friday night into early Saturday morning. So, yes, maybe 24 hours removed from a white Christmas, but we are going to see snow in the Northeast. Ice storm warnings have been upgraded across parts of western PA Winter weather advisories in place for millions of people impacted, especially when it comes to travel, road travel, air travel will be a nightmare.

[Debra Valentine]

Fox Weather's Jane Menar with that report. The Powerball jackpot endured a record 46 drawings without a grand prize winner until Christmas Eve when $1.8 billion jackpot was hit.

[Jeff Paul]

The Arkansas Lottery just posted this saying in part, whoa, Arkansas, what a winning night. They confirmed the jackpot ticket was sold at a Murphy USA gas station in the city of Cabot, which is about 25 miles northeast of Little Rock. Now, whoever had those winning number members now has to decide if they want the $1.8 billion prize paid out in annual payments over 29 years or if they want to take the one time lump sum of $835.9 million.

[Debra Valentine]

Fox's Jeff Paul reporting. I'm Debra Valentine. This is FOX News.