7AM ET 12/25/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 7AM ET, December 25, 2025

Host: Paul Stevens
Date: December 25, 2025
Network: FOX News Radio

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Episode Overview

This hourly newscast from FOX News covers major global and national headlines relevant to the early hours of December 25th, 2025. Key topics include Christmas remarks from Pope Leo XIV, updates on the release of Jeffrey Epstein files, a record Powerball jackpot win, extreme West Coast weather conditions, a violent ICE confrontation in Maryland, and a fatal helicopter crash in Tanzania.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Christmas Celebrations and Pope’s Message

• [00:02]
  • Pope Leo XIV celebrates the first Christmas Day Mass since 1994 from St. Peter’s Basilica.
  • During his sermon, he addresses the difficult living conditions of Palestinians in Gaza.
  • He calls on Christians to extend help to the poor and strangers during the Christmas season.
  • Notable Quote:
    "He called for Christians to help the poor and strangers during his Christmas Eve service." — Paul Stevens [00:14]

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2. Justice Department & Epstein Files Controversy

• [00:25–01:23]
  • The Department of Justice works "around the clock" to review and redact over 1 million documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, after missing a congressionally-mandated disclosure deadline.
  • Senator Chuck Schumer voices frustration on X, accusing Trump of a cover-up and criticizing the timing of document releases:
    “A Christmas Eve news dump of a million more files only proves what we already [know:] Trump is engaged in a massive cover up.” — Reported by Alexandria Hoff [00:53]
  • Bipartisan senators demand a neutral assessment of DOJ compliance.
  • Nearly 40,000 documents released since December 19th; only Ghislaine Maxwell has been convicted among Epstein’s associates.
  • Congressman Thomas Massie (R-TN) alleges the DOJ broke the law by missing the release deadline.
  • Notable Quote:
    "No Epstein associate besides Ghislaine Maxwell has been convicted of any wrongdoing. Nearly 40,000 documents have been released since December 19th." — Paul Stevens [01:23]

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3. Powerball Jackpot Win

• [01:36]
  • A winning ticket in Arkansas hits the $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot on Christmas Eve.
  • Odds of winning are 1 in 292 million; the jackpot resets for Saturday.
  • Notable Moment:
    "A ticket in Arkansas matching all the winning numbers drawn on Christmas Eve for that big $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot." — Paul Stevens [01:36]

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4. West Coast Floods and Weather Emergency

• [02:32–02:58]
  • Over 40 million people are under flood alerts, mostly in California, southern Nevada, and western Arizona.
  • Torrential rain, flooding, mudslides, strong winds, and feet of mountain snow are reported, with some areas seeing 4–8 inches of rain.
  • California’s governor declares a state of emergency.
  • Flood alerts remain through Friday; Sierra snow levels expected to drop to 5,000ft.
  • Notable Quote:
    "More than 40 million people are under flood alerts, including most of California, southern Nevada and western Arizona." — Chanley Painter [02:35]

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5. Violent ICE Confrontation in Maryland

• [02:58–03:58]
  • ICE agents identify and attempt to detain two illegal immigrants, resulting in a vehicular assault and gunfire.
  • Individuals Involved:
    • Driver: Tiego Alexandre Sousa Martins (from Portugal, 17 years illegal US resident)
    • Passenger: Solomon Antonio Soriano Esquivel (from El Salvador)
  • The van’s driver allegedly tried to run over agents and crashed into ICE vehicles, prompting an agent to fire.
  • Both suspects hospitalized; the passenger wounded but not by gunfire.
  • Notable Quote:
    "Investigators say an ICE agent had fired at the driver of this van after the driver had attempted to run him over." — Jeff Abel [03:18]

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6. Fatal Helicopter Crash on Mount Kilimanjaro

• [03:58]
  • At least five people die in a helicopter crash on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.
  • Victims include two foreigners (picked up for medical evacuation), a local doctor, tour guide, and pilot.
  • Crash site was between Barafu Camp and Kibo Summit, altitude over 13,000ft.
  • Notable Moment:
    "A local doctor, a tour guide and a pilot also killed in that crash taking place between the mountain’s Barafu camp and the Kibo summit." — Paul Stevens [03:58]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Paul Stevens [00:14]:
  “He called for Christians to help the poor and strangers during his Christmas Eve service.”
• Alexandria Hoff [00:53]:
  “A Christmas Eve news dump of a million more files only proves what we already [know:] Trump is engaged in a massive cover up.”
• Chanley Painter [02:35]: “More than 40 million people are under flood alerts, including most of California, southern Nevada and western Arizona.”
• Jeff Abel [03:18]: “Investigators say an ICE agent had fired at the driver of this van after the driver had attempted to run him over.”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:02 – Opening; Pope Leo XIV’s Christmas message and humanitarian appeal
• 00:25–01:23 – DOJ’s ongoing Epstein file review; Congressional and Senatorial reactions
• 01:36 – Historic $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot won in Arkansas
• 02:32–02:58 – Flood crisis and state of emergency on the US West Coast
• 02:58–03:58 – ICE confrontation and shooting in Maryland involving illegal immigrants
• 03:58 – Fatal helicopter crash on Mount Kilimanjaro

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Summary

This episode presents a fast-paced rundown of significant Christmas Day headlines, balancing major global events, legal-political controversies, severe weather incidents, and breaking news of both national and international consequence.

Transcript

[Paul Stevens]

Christmas celebrations. I'm paul stevens, fox news. Pope leo xiv celebrating the first christmas day mass since 1994 in st. Peter's basilica. The pontiff lamenting the living conditions Palestinians in Gaza were experiencing during the sermon. He called for Christians to help the poor and strangers during his Christmas Eve service. The Justice Department working to release the rest of the Epstein files after the congressionally mandated deadline passed. Be it more from Fox's Alexandria Hoff.

[Alexandria Hoff]

In D.C. the Justice Department vows that it has lawyers working around the clock to review and make the legally required redactions on over 1 million additional documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Therefore, complying with the law to make records public may take a few more weeks. On X Senator Chuck Schumer uses an expletive to make his frustration known, adding in an accusatory second post. A Christmas Eve news dump of a million more files only proves what we already Trump is engaged in a massive cover up. A bipartisan group of senators now demands to know why, urging the Justice Department's acting inspector general to launch a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements.

[Paul Stevens]

And no Epstein associate besides Ghislaine Maxwell has been convicted of any wrongdoing. Nearly 40,000 documents have been released since December 19th. Republican Tennessee Congressman Thomas Massie alleging the Justice Department broke the law for not complying with a deadline and a ticket in Arkansas matching all the winning numbers drawn on Christmas Eve for that big $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot. The odds of winning the jackpot when it resets 1 in 292 million jackpot resets to Saturday.

[Rian Johnson]

America's listening to Fox News from writer director Rian Johnson.

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[Paul Stevens]

It is a wet Christmas for millions on the west coast.

[Chanley Painter]

More than 40 million people are under flood alerts, including most of California, southern Nevada and western Arizona. Heavy rain, flooding, strong winds and feet of mountain snow are all possible. Some places have already seen 4 to 8 inches of rain, causing flash flooding, mudslides and washed out roadways. In response, California's governor is declaring a state of emergency.

[Paul Stevens]

Fox's Chanley Painter flood watches are expected to remain in effect for California through tomorrow Friday. Snow levels though expected to drop to about 5,000ft for parts of these Sierras. A confrontation with ICE agents in Maryland results in gunfire, lands two illegal immigrants in a hospital.

[Jeff Abel]

Crews pulled a white van out of the Glen Burnie Woods. Investigators say an ICE agent had fired at the driver of this van after the driver had attempted to run him over. Investigators identify the driver of the van as Tiego Alexandre Sousa Martins from Portugal who had been living illegally in the US for the past 17 years. His passenger is identified as Solomon Antonio Soriano Esquivel, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador. Investigators say agent had positively identified both men, but when agents attempted to question them, the driver slammed into several ICE vehicles and attempted to run over the agents. The the driver was injured when the officer fired at the vehicle. The passenger was also injured but wasn't hit by the gunfire. Jeff Abel, FOX News.

[Paul Stevens]

At least five people are confirmed dead, dying after a helicopter crashed on Africa's highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Two foreigners picked up in a medical evacuation were said to be among those killed. A local doctor, a tour guide and a pilot also killed in that crash taking place between the mountains, Barafu camp and the Kibo summit. That happening at an altitude of more than 13,000ft. I'm Paul Stevens. This is FOX News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of.

[Narrator]

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