5PM ET 12/21/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 5PM ET 12/21/2025 Newscast

Host: Debra Valentine (FOX News Podcasts)
Date: December 21, 2025
Episode Theme:
A rapid-fire newscast covering major national and international headlines, political speeches, border security, infrastructure issues, economic updates, tariffs, and gas prices.

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Main Theme Overview

This episode provides a succinct roundup of key national news and policy developments, spotlighting a high-profile political event, ongoing border enforcement, a significant regional infrastructure failure, criminal justice updates, and the latest in economic policy and energy prices. Fast-paced and anchored in the direct style characteristic of hourly news reports, the episode offers listeners the major developments they need to know.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Vice President J.D. Vance's Keynote at America Fest

• [00:13] Live from Phoenix, Arizona, Vice President J.D. Vance delivers a keynote speech at Turning Point USA’s America Fest.
  • Powerful condemnation against political violence and violence targeting law enforcement.
  • Emphasis on free speech and an inclusive "America first" agenda:
    • J.D. Vance:

      "All Americans if you're white or black, rich or poor, young or old, rural or urban, controversial or a little bit boring or somewhere in between. People of every faith come to our banner because they know that the America first movement will make their lives better." [00:27]

  • Event occurs in the aftermath of TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk’s assassination in September at Utah Valley University.

2. Border Security and Immigration Updates

• [00:48] Remarks from Border Czar Tom Holman:
  • Holman highlights the "success of President Donald Trump’s massive crackdown on illegal immigration."
  • Significance of border security raised within broader ‘America First’ priorities.

3. Venezuela Oil Blockade & US Naval Action

• [00:56] The U.S. targets another vessel off Venezuela’s coast in international waters.
  • Follows President Trump’s recent announcement of a blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.

4. California Power Outage Disrupts San Francisco

• [01:24] Power outages affect PG&E customers in the San Francisco area, attributed to a substation fire.
  • More than 21,000 customers remain without power; no further outages expected.
  • Impact on local shopping and traffic during one of the busiest retail days of the year:
    • News Reporter:

      "Roads were in a gridlock and stores were dark. Parts of Presidio, Sunset, Richmond District and areas surrounding the Golden Gate park were all affected." [01:24]

5. Prison Escape in Louisiana

• [02:23] The last of three inmates who escaped from the St. Landry Parish Jail is recaptured.
  • Escape involved removing concrete blocks from a degrading wall.
  • Noted as the second escape from the facility since October.

6. Potential Tariff Policy Changes

• [02:54] National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett discusses possible adjustments to tariffs in the new year:
  • Positive government surplus, reduced deficit.
    • Kevin Hassett:

      "Policy has big government surplus, actually running for a few months in a row. The deficit relative to last year is down by $600 billion." [02:59]

  • Indicates consideration for tariff exemptions on goods not meant to be produced in the U.S., especially citing climate-related reasons:
    • Kevin Hassett:

      "There's an appetite to exempt things if they're really not meant to be made in the US because of, you know, like, climate or things like that." [03:13]

  • Awaiting Supreme Court decision that could affect Trump-era tariff legality.

7. U.S. Gasoline Prices Drop

• [03:31] Gasoline prices decrease by 9 cents in two weeks to a national average of $2.99 per gallon.
  • Cited driver: Weak demand and increased gasoline supply.
    • Trilly Lundberg:

      "We've had more than enough gasoline and now the supply of actual gasoline has grown while our demand is shrinking." [03:53]

  • New price is 13 cents lower than the same time last year.
    • Trilly Lundberg:

      "Maybe this big price cut will stop the shrinking of demand, but that can't be known. It may be that the cost of other goods and services have not dropped enough." [03:53]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• J.D. Vance:

  "People of every faith come to our banner because they know that the America first movement will make their lives better." [00:27]

• News Reporter:

  "Roads were in a gridlock and stores were dark. Parts of Presidio, Sunset, Richmond District and areas surrounding the Golden Gate park were all affected." [01:24]

• Kevin Hassett:

  "The deficit relative to last year is down by $600 billion." [02:59]
  "There's an appetite to exempt things if they're really not meant to be made in the US because of, you know, like, climate or things like that." [03:13]

• Trilly Lundberg:

  "We've had more than enough gasoline and now the supply of actual gasoline has grown while our demand is shrinking." [03:53]

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:13] – VP J.D. Vance’s speech at America Fest, call for unity and ‘America First’.
• [00:48] – Remarks from Border Czar Tom Holman on immigration enforcement.
• [00:56] – U.S. targets Venezuela oil vessel following new Trump sanctions.
• [01:24] – San Francisco PG&E substation fire and widespread power outage.
• [02:23] – Recapture of escaped Louisiana inmate.
• [02:54] – Kevin Hassett on tariffs, deficit reduction, and potential exemptions.
• [03:31] – Update on falling U.S. gas prices; demand trends explained.

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Flow & Tone

The episode maintains a brisk, factual pace typical of top-of-the-hour news summaries. Quotes are short, clear, and direct, with an emphasis on relaying major statements and facts without extended editorial commentary.

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For listeners who missed the episode:
You’ll come away informed on the latest U.S. political speeches, immigration enforcement victories, international economic actions, pressing local infrastructure disruptions, security events, and the latest economic indicators affecting American wallets and government fiscal policy.

Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

The VP's keynote. I'm Debra Valentine. Fox News Vice President J.D. vance closed out Turning Point USA's America Fest. Fox's Christina Coleman has the latest from.

[Christina Coleman]

Phoenix, Arizona Vice President J.D. vance gave a very powerful speech. He condemned political violence, violence against law enforcement. He encouraged free speech and he talked about the America first agenda. He says it is welcome to to.

[J.D. Vance]

All Americans if you're white or black, rich or poor, young or old, rural or urban, controversial or a little bit boring or somewhere in between. People of every faith come to our banner because they know that the America first movement will make their lives better.

[Christina Coleman]

Border czar Tom Holman also delivered remarks. He touted the success of President Donald Trump's massive crackdown on illegal immigration.

[Debra Valentine]

The event after the assassination of TPUS USA's founder Charlie Kirk in September at Utah Valley University. Reuters reporting that the United States has targeted another vessel off the coast of Venezuela in international waters. The move comes days after President Donald Trump announced a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. Power outages remain for P E N G customers in the San Francisco, California area.

[News Reporter]

Officials say part of the outage was caused by a substation fire at the electrical company pgne. They released a statement calling the damage extensive. This was one of the busiest days for shopping. Roads were in a gridlock and stores were dark. Parts of Presidio, Sunset, Richmond District and areas surrounding the Golden Gate park were all affected. As of this afternoon, PGE reported, more than 21,000 customers are still without power. No further outages are expected.

[Debra Valentine]

America is listening to Fox News.

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[Debra Valentine]

The last of the three inmates who escaped to Louisiana jail has been captured more than two weeks after their escape. The the inmates escaped from the St. Landry Parish Jail in early December after gradually removing concrete blocks from a degrading wall. The last inmate captured, Keith Ely, was apprehended without incident. The escape is the second from the St. Landry Parish Jail since October. Could there be changes in tariff policy once the new year begins? The president's top economic adviser said there may be. Here's Fox's Grinnell Scott, National Economic Council.

[Grinnell Scott]

Director Kevin Hassett said on CBS Face the Nation. He and the president both believe tariff.

[Kevin Hassett]

Policy has big government surplus, actually running for a few months in a row. The deficit relative to last year is down by $600 billion.

[Grinnell Scott]

But he may have an idea where global tariffs may be eased.

[Kevin Hassett]

There's an appetite to exempt things if they're really not meant to be made in the US because of, you know, like, climate or things like that.

[Grinnell Scott]

The administration also waits for a Supreme Court decision in the new year that could determine the legality of the Trump tariff policy. Scott FOX News.

[Debra Valentine]

Gasoline prices fell some 9 cents over the last two weeks to a new national U.S. average of $2.99 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. That's according to Trilly Lundberg of the Lundberg Survey. She says the price decrease is due to weak demand for gasoline in the United States.

[Trilly Lundberg]

We've had more than enough gasoline and now the supply of actual gasoline has grown while our demand is shrinking. Maybe this big price cut will stop the shrinking of demand, but that can't be known. It may be that the cost of other goods and services have not dropped enough.

[Debra Valentine]

The current price $0.13 lower than a year ago. I'm Debra Valentine. This is 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 you listen to podcasts.