7AM ET 12/18/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 7AM ET 12/18/2025: Episode Summary

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode provides a concise news roundup, focusing on President Trump’s White House address, reactions from political leaders, ongoing domestic stories, international incidents, and notable developments in investigations and legal matters. The episode is anchored by Dave Anthony.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. President Trump’s White House Address

• Overview: President Trump addressed the nation, claiming substantial progress compared to the previous administration.

• Key Themes:

  • Criticized conditions inherited from President Biden, listing illegal immigration, financial woes, and alleged indoctrination in schools.
  • Asserted his administration brought "more positive change to Washington than any administration in American history" over the past 11 months.
  • Highlighted a focus on reducing inflation and making goods more affordable.
  • Announced a $1,776 bonus for every military member, funded by increased tariff revenues, in celebration of America's approaching 250th birthday.

• Notable Quotes:

  • "They flooded your cities and towns with illegal aliens. They decimated your hard earned savings. They indoctrinated your children with hate for America."
    – President Trump (00:08)
  • "11 months we have brought more positive change to Washington than any administration in American history."
    – President Trump (00:22)
  • "Now under our leadership, they are all coming down and coming down fast."
    – President Trump, on prices after inflation (00:34)
  • "We are sending every soldier $1776."
    – President Trump, on military bonuses (00:45)

2. Political Reactions & Criticism

• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s Response:
  • Criticized President Trump’s address, suggesting he is out of touch with ordinary Americans and their financial struggles.
  • Raised concerns over the omission of Trump’s recent actions in Venezuela, including military strikes called illegal by some Democrats.
• Venezuela Crackdown:
  • Mentioned military operations and a blockade related to drug trafficking off Venezuela, with lethal consequences for alleged narco-terrorists.

3. Brown University Shooting Manhunt

• Update from Providence:
  • Police are seeking public assistance to identify a second individual seen near the crime scene before the deadly school shooting.
  • The suspect is unidentified, and further evidence is being examined.
• Details:
  • The shooting resulted in two deaths and nine injuries.
  • Ongoing investigation with support from FOX’s Brian Yanes.

4. Religious Leadership News

• Catholic Church Appointment:
  • Pope Leo appointed Bishop Ronald Hicks (from Illinois) as the next Archbishop of New York, replacing retiring Cardinal Timothy Dolan, noted as a prominent conservative.

5. Australia Anti-Semitism Crackdown

• Terror Attack Fallout:
  • Announcement from Australia’s Prime Minister (Anthony Albanese) of new laws to tackle anti-Semitism after a deadly Hanukkah attack in Bondi Beach.
  • Survivor quotes display anger and dissatisfaction with the PM’s response.
  • Attack perpetrated by an ISIS-inspired father-son duo, resulting in 15 deaths.
• Memorable Moment:
  • "Albanese is weak. He hasn't listened... He's a politician that wants votes. He is not a leader."
    – Shooting survivor Wayne Miller (02:29-02:36)

6. Jeffrey Epstein/Ghislaine Maxwell Update

• Legal Proceedings:
  • Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted for sex trafficking, is seeking release from prison citing new evidence and claims of miscarriage of justice.
  • Court actions coincide with the imminent public release of records under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by President Trump.
  • Contrasting claims on the veracity and significance of the newly released files, with prosecutors committed to the mandated timeline.

7. Financial and Miscellaneous News

• Inflation Report:

  • Upcoming inflation data anticipated to show an increase in consumer prices.
  • Stock futures rebound ahead of the report despite a previous selloff.

• Powerball Update:

  • No jackpot winner; prize grows to $1.5 billion for Saturday’s drawing.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "America's listening to FOX News."
  – Dave Anthony (01:55)

• "Albanese is weak. He hasn't listened... He is not a leader."
  – Shooting Survivor Wayne Miller (02:29-02:36)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:03 – President Trump’s address and highlights
• 00:51 – Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticism & Venezuela crackdown
• 01:17 – Brown University shooting investigation update
• 01:46 – New Archbishop of New York appointment
• 02:16 – Australia’s anti-Semitism crackdown after terrorist attack
• 03:03 – Ghislaine Maxwell’s prison appeal and Epstein files release
• 03:58 – Upcoming inflation report and Powerball news

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Takeaways

This Fox News update offers a rapid-fire, headline-driven snapshot of American and international news with emphasis on President Trump’s policy assertions and political reaction, law enforcement activity in high-profile cases, and significant happenings abroad, particularly in Australia. The tone remains brisk, factual, and occasionally punctuated by emotional testimony from those affected by the news.

Transcript

[Dave Anthony]

President Trump insists he's fixing a mess he inherited. I'm Dave Anthony, FOX News.

[President Trump]

They flooded your cities and towns with illegal aliens. They decimated your hard earned savings. They indoctrinated your children with hate for America.

[Dave Anthony]

And in a primetime White House address, President Trump told us over the past.

[President Trump]

11 months we have brought more positive change to Washington than any administration in American history.

[Dave Anthony]

He insists he's making things more affordable, affordable after Biden era inflation.

[President Trump]

Now under our leadership, they are all coming down and coming down fast.

[Dave Anthony]

And the president announced with all the revenue coming in from his tariffs on imports from around the world, he's giving military members a BONUS Ahead of America's 250th birthday.

[President Trump]

We are sending every soldier $1776.

[Dave Anthony]

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was critical of the Trump address last night, saying the president lives in a bubble. People are feeling financially squeezed harder and harder every day. The president did not bring up last night his crackdown on Venezuela. From an oil tanker blockade to US Military operation some Democrats call illegal blowing up boats said to be trafficking drugs off Venezuela's coast. With another strike yesterday killing another four alleged narco terrorists. Now to the manhunt for the Brown University shooter.

[Brian Yanes]

Police are now asking the public for help in identifying this second person seen walking in the same residential neighborhood as the primary person of interest right before the deadly school shooting. Now police don't even know this person's gender.

[Dave Anthony]

Fox's Brian Yanes in Providence where police also say they have and other evidence trying to find the gunman who murdered two students on Saturday and wounded nine others. Pope Leo has just appointed the next archbishop of New York, somebody who's also from Illinois like he is. Bishop Ronald Hicks will replace the retiring Cardinal Timothy Dolan who is considered a prominent conservative within the U.S. catholic Church. 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 Jesus.

[Podcast Narrator]

A listening experience that will provide hope, comfort, understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Dave Anthony]

Australia's prime minister is promising a crackdown on anti Semitism following the terror attack that targeted Jews.

[Wayne Miller]

Grief, but also fury at the funeral of the youngest victim of Sunday's massacre on Bondi Beach.

[Shooting Survivor]

Albanese is weak. He hasn't listened.

[Dave Anthony]

You know what?

[Shooting Survivor]

He's a politician that wants votes. He is not a leader.

[Wayne Miller]

Shooting survivor Wayne Miller as 10 year old Matilda is laid to rest. He blames Australian PM Anthony Albanese after the killing of 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration. Albanese promise new laws that will target hate division and radicalization. Police say an ISIS inspired father and son carried out the attack. The father shot dead by officers, the son charged with 15 offenses. Jonathan Savage, FOX News.

[Dave Anthony]

As Congress keeps awaiting more of the files it voted for the Justice Department to release from the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation involving young girls. An Epstein associate convicted after his death in jail, Ghislaine Maxwell, wants to be freed from prison.

[Grinnell Scott]

The filing in Manhattan federal court cites new evidence from various sources, such as government disclosures and civil actions that Maxwell says led to a miscarriage of justice in her sex trafficking conviction in 2021. Maxwell's push for freedom comes just before the Friday release of case records under the Epstein Files Transparency act signed by President Trump. While Maxwell's lawyer David Marcus has said in the past the files contain unproven allegations, U.S. attorney for New York's Southern District Jay Clayton said he would abide by the release timeline. Maxwell has been housed at a prison camp in Texas since the summer. Grinnell Scott, FOX NEWS.

[Dave Anthony]

We'll get an inflation update next hour. Expected to show a higher annual rate of increase in consumer prices last month. Stock futures are rising before that report the day after a sell off. And nobody hit the Powerball jackpot last night, so it grows to $1.5 billion Saturday. I'm Dave Anthony, FOX News.