5PM ET 12/25/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update — 5PM ET, December 25, 2025

Episode Overview

This newscast provides listeners with the latest national and international headlines on Christmas Day, focusing on severe weather in Southern California, evolving U.S. military policy on Venezuela, the British royal family's annual Christmas appearance, Christmas observances in the Middle East amid ongoing conflict, and other notable global updates.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Southern California Hit by Severe Rainfall

• Correspondents: Roger Stern, Ainsley Earhart, Jessica Rosenthal
• Los Angeles and surrounding areas experienced torrential rainfall, leading to flash floods, accidents, and critical rescues.
  • Casualties: Three storm-related deaths, including a 64-year-old man in San Diego killed by a falling tree (00:10).
  • Dramatic Rescues: Fire crews performed several rescues, notably airlifting a man trapped in an RV from a creek in Sunland (00:16).
  • Rainfall Totals: Ranged from just over 2.5 inches in downtown LA to more than 12 inches near the San Gabriel Dam (00:26).
• Quote:
  • “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.”
    — Jessica Rosenthal (00:14)

---

2. US Military Tightens Focus on Venezuelan Oil

• Correspondents: Roger Stern, Ryan Schmelz
• The White House has ordered U.S. military forces to enforce a quarantine on Venezuelan oil for at least two months.
  • Shift in Policy: The Trump administration is prioritizing economic sanctions over direct military intervention (00:51).
  • Ongoing Pressure: President Trump urged Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to step down, while continuing strikes on alleged cartel vessels in the Caribbean (01:07).
  • Venezuelan Perspective: Officials from Venezuela claim the real threat comes from the U.S. government rather than their own regime (01:17).
• Quote:
  • “Military forces are being told to focus on a quarantine of Venezuelan oil for the next two months minimum… the Trump administration is more interested in using economic pressure as opposed to military force, though military options remain on the table.”
    — Ryan Schmelz (00:53)

---

3. British Royal Family’s Christmas Service

• Correspondent: Roger Stern
• The British royals attended the annual service at Sandringham, led by King Charles and Queen Camilla.
  • Who Attended: Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince Andrew's daughters.
  • Who Was Absent: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (01:37).
  • Context: Prince Andrew remains stripped of his title due to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal (01:33).

---

4. Christmas Observances in the Middle East

• Correspondents: Roger Stern, Jessica Rosenthal, Pray Yinxed
• At the Vatican: Pope Leo presided over the first Christmas Day Mass since 1994 at St. Peter’s Basilica.
  • Focus of the Sermon: He lamented conditions in Gaza and called for aid to the poor and strangers (02:31).
• In Bethlehem:
  • Thousands marked Christmas Eve despite hardships since the October 7 attacks (03:08).
  • Quote:
    • “We want Christmas full of light because this is what we need after two years of darkness. We need light.”
      — Unnamed local speaker (03:23)
  • Only about 1,000 Christians remain in Gaza, but children still participated in Christmas celebrations (03:31).
  • The mayor of Bethlehem emphasized that Christmas means “resilience, hope, and great things for the Palestinian people” (03:42).

---

5. Other Notable Stories

• Brazil:
  • Former President Jair Bolsonaro underwent double hernia surgery while serving a 27-year sentence for attempting a coup. He has required multiple operations since being stabbed in 2018 (03:49).
• Arkansas Lottery Win:
  • A single Powerball ticket in Arkansas won the $1.8 billion jackpot, the second-largest in U.S. history. Winning numbers: 4, 25, 31, 52, 59 (04:11).

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Southern California Storms:

  • “Fire crews affected several rescues... man who was trapped in an RV... He had to be lifted out of a creek by helicopter.”
    — Jessica Rosenthal (00:14)

• On U.S. Policy Towards Venezuela:

  • “Military forces are being told to focus on a quarantine of Venezuelan oil for the next two months minimum...”
    — Ryan Schmelz (00:53)

• On Christmas in Bethlehem:

  • “We want Christmas full of light because this is what we need after two years of darkness. We need light.”
    — Local speaker, Bethlehem (03:23)

• On Powerball Win:

  • “Talking about a Christmas present, someone in Arkansas won the massive Powerball jackpot of $1.8 billion. It was the second largest U.S. lotto jackpot ever.”
    — Roger Stern (04:11)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:02: Southern California storms and rescue efforts
• 00:44: U.S. military order on Venezuela
• 01:29: British royal family’s Christmas service
• 02:31: Pope Leo’s Christmas sermon, Christmas in the West Bank and Gaza
• 03:42: Updates on Jair Bolsonaro and Powerball win

---

Summary

This broadcast provides a snapshot of major world events on Christmas Day, focusing on meteorological emergencies in California, geopolitical strategy shifts in South America, traditional and disrupted holiday observances worldwide, and a life-changing lottery win. The tone is brisk and informative, with moments of empathy for those affected by adversity during the holidays.

Transcript

[Roger Stern]

What Christmas in la. I'm Roger Stern, Fox News. A deluge in southern California with LA getting hit hard.

[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.

[Roger Stern]

The White House issuing new marching orders to the US Military when it comes to Venezuela. Fox's Ryan Schmelz with the latest.

[Ryan Schmelz]

Military forces are being told to focus on a quarantine of Venezuelan oil for the next two months minimum. That, according to Reuters, citing a US Official, says the Trump administration is more interested in using economic pressure as opposed to military force, though military options remain on the table. President Trump continued his pressure campaign this week on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, saying it would be smart for him to leave office while continuing military strikes on alleged cartel boats in the Caribbean. Venezuelan officials have said the US Government is the threat, not Venezuela. In Washington, Ryan Schmells, FOX News.

[Roger Stern]

The British royal family attending the annual Christmas Day church service at Sandringham with King Charles and Queen Camilla leading the way. They were joined by Prince Williams and Kate Middleton, along with the daughters of the former Prince Andrew, the king's younger brother who was stripped of his title due to his involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Also, Prince Harry and his wife were not there. America is listening to FOX News.

[Podcast Host]

Shopping is hard, right? But I found a better way. Stitch fix online. Personal styling makes it easy. I just give my stylist my size, style and budget preferences. I order boxes when I want and how I want. No subscription required. And he sends just for me, pieces plus outfit recommendations and styling tips. I keep what works and send back the rest. It's so easy. Make style easy. Get started [e-mail] Spotify that's stitchfix.com Spotify.

[Roger Stern]

Pope Leo celebrated the first Christmas Day mass since 1994 in St. Peter's Basilica. Part of the service included the choir singing a hymn. During the sermon. Pope Leo lamenting the living conditions Palestinians in Gaza are experiencing. He also called for Christians to help the poor and strangers during his Christmas Eve service in the West Bank, Bethlehem celebrated Christmas for the first time since the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the Israel Hamas war. Foxes pray yinxed in Tel Aviv Thousands.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

Of Christian Palestinians gather in the biblical city of Bethlehem to mark Christmas Eve. Standing near the Church of the Nativity, they listen to the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem talk about Christmas celebrations across the Palestinian territories this year.

[Roger Stern]

We want Christmas full of light because this is what we need after two years of darkness. We need light.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

Inside Gaza, the Christian population is estimated to be below 1000 people. But on this Christmas Eve, children gathered to decorate a banner as a Christmas tree was put up near a church in Gaza City.

[Roger Stern]

Bethlehem's mayor said Christmas means resilience, means hope, and means great things for the Palestinian people. Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has undergone a double hernia surgery. He's been hospitalized since Wednesday While serving a 27 year prison sentence for an attempted coup. The former leader has gone through several other surgeries after being stabbed in the abdomen during a campaign rally in 2018. Talking about a Christmas present, someone in Arkansas won the massive powerball jackpot of $1.8 billion. It was the second largest U.S. lotto jackpot ever. The winning numbers were 4, 25, 31, 52 and 59. I'm Roger Stern and 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 Host]

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.