Fox News Hourly Update – 5PM ET 12/27/2025 Newscast

Podcast: Fox News Hourly Update
Host: Carmen Roberts (FOX News)
Date: December 27, 2025

Main Theme

This episode delivers a concise roundup of major national and international news stories from the afternoon of December 27, 2025. The broadcast covers continued fallout from Northeast U.S. snowstorms, geopolitical developments involving Russia, Ukraine, and Israel, a major earthquake in Taiwan, U.S. political maneuvers ahead of the midterms, a tragic accident in Guatemala, and controversy over an edited classic film on Amazon Prime.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Travel Chaos in the Northeast U.S.

[00:02 – 00:52]

• Major snowstorm continues to disrupt travel, stranding thousands at airports, particularly in the New York area.

• Caroline Elliott reports from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport:

  • Travelers facing multi-hour lines, delays, cancellations.
  • “Some people told us they waited an entire hour and they were scared. Still not at the front.” – Caroline Elliott [00:19]
  • Another storm set to hit the Northeast tomorrow, coinciding with one of the busiest travel days of the year.

• Stats: Nearly 900 flights canceled; over 63,300 delayed nationwide, most in the NY area.

2. Russia-Ukraine War: Diplomatic Developments

[00:52 – 01:47]

• Russia launched missile and drone attacks on Kyiv ahead of President Zelensky's meeting with former U.S. President Trump at Mar-A-Lago.

• Madison Scarpino on the meeting:

  • Focus is on US security guarantees and possible demilitarization zones in a peace plan.
  • “President Trump is reportedly saying Zelensky does not have anything until he approves it. And many are skeptical the plan would even come to fruition.” – Madison Scarpino [01:23]
  • Israeli PM Netanyahu also scheduled to meet Trump, bringing updates on Iran and the Gaza peace process.

• Zelensky plans to consult European leaders after his U.S. talks.

3. Earthquake in Taiwan

[02:31 – 02:55]

• Magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck off Taiwan’s northeast coast, near Yilan.
• No immediate reports of casualties or widespread damage.

4. U.S. Midterm Election Strategies & Economic Highlights

[02:55 – 03:13]

• Democrats push to regain Congressional control ahead of the 2026 midterms.
• GOP Congresswoman Beth Van Dyne touts a legislative victory dubbed the President’s “big beautiful bill.”
  • Includes $150 billion in tax refunds (approx. $1,000–$2,000 per family)
  • Trillions in business incentives to encourage domestic and foreign investment, claimed to spur “trillions of dollars of additional foreign dollars coming into U.S. soil.” – Ainsley Earhart [02:59]
• U.S. GDP reports a robust 4.3% annualized growth rate in Q3.

5. Tragedy in Guatemala

[03:13 – 03:37]

• Municipal bus fell into a ravine: 15 dead, at least 15 injured.
• National mourning declared by authorities.

6. Amazon Prime Controversy: “It’s a Wonderful Life” Edit

[03:37 – 04:23]

• Outrage after Amazon Prime Video streams a cut of “It’s a Wonderful Life” missing the “Pottersville sequence.”
  • Scene is “pivotal,” showing George Bailey how life would have been without him.
  • “Social media users blasted the edit as an abomination, accusing Amazon of turning a timeless film into narrative nonsense...” – Michelle Paulino [03:50]
  • Legal experts speculate copyright issues may be the cause.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Some people told us they waited an entire hour and they were scared. Still not at the front.”
  — Caroline Elliott, [00:19]

• “President Trump is reportedly saying Zelensky does not have anything until he approves it. And many are skeptical the plan would even come to fruition.”
  — Madison Scarpino, [01:23]

• “$150 billion in tax refunds in the about 1,000 to $2,000 per work, you know, per family, as well as trillions of dollars of incentives for American businesses to be able to build here. Trillions of dollars of additional foreign dollars coming into U.S. soil.”
  — Ainsley Earhart, [02:59]

• “Social media users blasted the edit as an abomination, accusing Amazon of turning a timeless film into narrative nonsense, especially for first time viewers unfamiliar with the story.”
  — Michelle Paulino, [03:50]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:02 – Travel delays and storm reports
• 00:52 – Russia-Ukraine missile attacks ahead of Trump-Zelensky meeting
• 01:47 – Preview of Netanyahu’s Mar-A-Lago visit and Gaza updates
• 02:31 – Earthquake hits Taiwan
• 02:55 – U.S. midterms, tax refunds, economic news
• 03:13 – Guatemala bus crash
• 03:37 – “It’s a Wonderful Life” edit backlash

Tone and Language

• Factual, urgent, and concise—typical for a news update format.
• Direct reporter attributions and vivid, scene-setting descriptions.
• Active inclusion of public sentiment, especially regarding the Amazon Prime controversy.

This episode is an efficient, information-rich briefing for listeners wanting the top headlines and latest developments at home and abroad as 2025 draws to a close.