9AM ET 12/18/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update — 9AM ET 12/18/2025 Newscast

Host: FOX News Podcasts
Date: December 18, 2025

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Overview

This concise episode delivers breaking news highlights across politics, economics, religion, business, and entertainment. Special attention is given to President Trump’s recent address and policy announcements, new economic indicators, notable personnel shifts within the Catholic Church, a significant business merger, and the future of the Oscars.

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Economic News and President Trump’s Address

Theme: Positive economic indicators and political spin
Timestamps: 00:02–01:30, 02:31–03:16

• Slowing Inflation Surprises Economists

  • “The prices you pay for things rose at a smaller pace in November. The consumer price index was up 2.7% for the year ending in November. Core CPI excluding food and energy, rose 2.6%. Economists were predicting both numbers would top 3%.”
    —Jenny Casola, [00:12]

• Unemployment Dynamics

  • Jobless claims dropped by 13,000 (to 224,000), but continued claims rose to 1.9 million.

• Trump’s Response:

  • President Trump highlighted historic employment and wage gains:
    • “There are more people working today than at any time in American history.”
      —President Trump, [00:44]
    • “For the first time in years, wages are rising much faster than inflation.”
      —President Trump, [00:50]
  • Trump positions these changes as part of his efforts to fix what he calls the “mess” from the Biden administration:
    • “We had the worst trade deals ever made and our country was laughed at from all over the world. But they’re not laughing anymore.”
      —President Trump, [00:58]

• Criticism from Democrats:

  • Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer accused the president of being “completely disconnected from the reality everyday Americans are seeing and feeling,” pointing to rising unemployment and prices. [01:06]

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US Military Bonus & National Celebration Plans

Theme: Political gestures and American patriotism
Timestamps: 01:06–03:16, 02:31–03:16

• Military Bonus Announcement
  • President Trump promises U.S. service members $1,776 bonus checks:
    • “I’m giving US military members a bonus check, $1,776 each.”
      —President Trump, [01:06]
• 250th Anniversary (“Semiquincentennial”) Plans:
  • Trump touts upcoming national celebrations in 2026:
    • “2026 will be a celebration of America like no other, honoring our nation in all of its glory.”
      —President Trump, [02:43]
    • A new public-private partnership, “Freedom 251,” will organize events around the semiquincentennial.
    • Main events include a “Great American State Fair” on the National Mall, showcasing innovations and state culture; a major prayer event; national athletic competitions; and an Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House.
      —Chris Foster, [03:04–03:16]

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US Military Action off Venezuela

Theme: Foreign operations and partisan debate
Timestamps: 01:06–01:46

• Continued Military Operations
  • President Trump omits reference to recent US Military actions off the Venezuelan coast.
  • A boat suspected of drug trafficking was struck; four alleged narco-terrorists killed.
  • Some Democrats label the operation illegal.

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Religion: New Archbishop of New York

Theme: Catholic Church leadership change
Timestamps: 01:46–01:51

• Bishop Ronald Hicks Appointed
  • Pope Leo names Bishop Hicks, an Illinois native, as the next Archbishop of New York, succeeding Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
    • “I asked him to tell the Holy Father that I say yes with great humility.”
      —Bishop Ronald Hicks, [01:51]

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Business: Major Trump Media Merger

Theme: Trump’s business expansion and market ramifications
Timestamps: 03:29–03:57

• $6B Merger Announced
  • Trump Media & Technology Group (operator of Truth Social) merges with TAE Technologies, a fusion power firm.
  • DJT stock surges 26% pre-market on the news; broader positive market reaction expected.
    • Dow futures up 200+ points; Nasdaq up 300+ points, buoyed by the inflation report.

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Entertainment: The Oscars Move to Streaming

Theme: Media evolution and milestone changes
Timestamps: 04:00–04:22

• Oscars to YouTube After 2028
  • Beginning in 2029, the Academy Awards will stream on YouTube; ABC will televise through the 100th Oscars in 2028.
    • “Starting in 2029, the Oscars will move from broadcast TV to streaming on their new home at YouTube.”
      —Monica DeLuca, [04:00]
  • The 2026 Oscars will take place March 15.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There are more people working today than at any time in American history.”
  —President Trump, [00:44]
• “For the first time in years, wages are rising much faster than inflation.”
  —President Trump, [00:50]
• “2026 will be a celebration of America like no other, honoring our nation in all of its glory.”
  —President Trump, [02:43]
• “Starting in 2029, the Oscars will move from broadcast TV to streaming on their new home at YouTube.”
  —Monica DeLuca, [04:00]
• “I asked him to tell the Holy Father that I say yes with great humility.”
  —Bishop Ronald Hicks, [01:51]
• “The president lives in a bubble, completely disconnected from the reality everyday Americans are seeing and feeling.”
  —Chuck Schumer, [01:06]

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Key Timestamps

• 00:02–01:30 — Economic updates, Trump address, and unemployment stats
• 01:06–01:46 — Military bonus, US action off Venezuela, and Democratic criticism
• 01:46–01:51 — New Archbishop of New York
• 02:31–03:16 — National anniversary and celebration plans
• 03:29–03:57 — Trump Media merger and market news
• 04:00–04:22 — Oscars move to streaming

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Summary:
This episode provides a sweep of today’s major headlines—emphasizing Trump administration policies and pronouncements, robust economic indicators, bold plans for America’s 250th birthday, a blockbuster business merger, and the future of celebrated institutions from the Catholic archdiocese to the Oscars. The newscast maintains a fast-paced, factual tone characteristic of Fox News hourly updates.

Transcript

[Dave Anthony]

News on the economy President Trump will like. I'm Dave Anthony, FOX news. Instead of rising like inspected, there was less inflation last month.

[Jenny Casola]

The prices you pay for things rose at a smaller pace in November. The consumer price index was up 2.7% for the year ending in November. Core CPI excluding food and energy, rose 2.6%. Economists were predicting both numbers would top 3%.

[Dave Anthony]

Fox's Jenny Casola we also got an unemployment update last time. Jobless claims fell by 13,000 last week, down to 224,000, though the number of people continuing to collect jobless benefits rose to almost 1.9 million. Now President Trump says very importantly, there.

[President Trump]

Are more people working today than at any time in American history.

[Dave Anthony]

In his address to the nation last night, he also told us for the.

[President Trump]

First time in years, wages are rising much faster than inflation.

[Dave Anthony]

The president says he's fixing a mess he inherited from President Biden.

[President Trump]

We had the worst trade deals ever made and our country was laughed at from all over the world. But they're not laughing anymore.

[Dave Anthony]

And touting all the revenue his tariffs have brought in, the president announced he's giving US military members a bonus check, $1,776 each. The Senate's Democratic leader was critical of the Trump speech. Chuck Schumer in a statement, says the president lives in a bubble, completely disconnected from the reality everyday Americans are seeing and feeling, adding unemployment is going up and prices are going up. President Trump did not mention the US Military operation off the Venezuelan coast. Democrats question as illegal There was another strike yesterday on a boat suspected of trafficking drugs, killing another four alleged narco terrorists. New York is getting a new archbishop. Pope Leo has appointed who somebody who, like him, is from Illinois, Bishop Ronald Hicks, who just said at a news conference I asked him to tell the.

[President Trump]

Holy Father that I say yes with great humility.

[Dave Anthony]

Bishop Hicks replaces the retiring Cardinal Timothy Dolan, considered a prominent conservative in the U.S. catholic Church. America's listening to FOX News at Capella University.

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[Dave Anthony]

Again, President Trump's dividend checks to US military members are $1776 each. As he gets ready to celebrate what's called our semi quincentennial 250th birthday.

[President Trump]

2026 will be a celebration of America like no other, honoring our nation in all of its glory.

[Chris Foster]

The president says we're going to have a good time.

[President Trump]

To help carry out these exciting plans, we have created a new public private partnership. It's called Freedom 251 of the events.

[Chris Foster]

In D.C. june 25 to July 10.

[President Trump]

We will host the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, featuring pavilions from all 50 states, highlighting breathtaking innovations and celebrating America's exceptional history and culture.

[Chris Foster]

Also planned, among other things, a major prayer event on the National Mall, an athletic event featuring the best boy and girl athletes from all 50 states and an Ultimate Fighting championship event at the White House on June 14. Chris Foster, Fox News A company with.

[Dave Anthony]

The president's name on it has made a big deal. Trump Media and Technology Group, which runs the Truth Social app he posts on daily, is merging with a fusion power company called TAE Technologies in a $6 billion transaction. That is the DJT stock surging up 26% in pre market trading. We may also see big gains in the overall market. Dow futures up more than 200 points over 300 for the NASDAQ ahead of the opening bell this hour. After that, better than expected inflation report. And the Oscar goes to streaming.

[Monica DeLuca]

Starting in 2029, the Oscars will move from broadcast TV to streaming on their new home at YouTube. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announcing the move away from abc, adding that the network will continue to broadcast the annual awards ceremony through 2028. That year will mark the 100th Oscars.

[Dave Anthony]

And that's Fox's Monica DeLuca. They'll hand out the 2026 Academy Awards March 15th. I'm Dave Anthony Fox. This is Ainsley Earhart.

[Jenny Casola]

Thank you for joining me for the.

[Dave Anthony]

52 episode podcast series the Life of 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.