9PM ET 12/19/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 9PM ET, 12/19/2025 Newscast

Host: Lisa LaCera (FOX News)
Date: December 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This Fox News Hourly Update provides major headlines from December 19, 2025, focusing on U.S. military retaliation against ISIS in Syria, newly released documents in the Jeffrey Epstein case, prescription drug pricing reforms, a Florida double homicide, a controversial Maryland redistricting process, and an overturned conviction in the murder of Jam Master Jay.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Military Retaliates Against ISIS in Syria

• Context: The U.S. conducted retaliatory strikes in Syria responding to the deaths of two Iowa National Guard members and a U.S. civilian interpreter on December 13, blamed on ISIS.
• Quotes & Insights:
  • Secretary of War Pete Haggs emphasizes retaliation, not escalation:
    "This is not the beginning of a war. It's a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trump's leadership, will never hesitate and never lend to defend our people." — Pete Haggs (quoted by John Celcier, [00:11])
  • President Trump announced via Truth Social that the Syrian government supports the operation.
• Timestamps: [00:02] to [00:40]

2. Justice Department Releases Epstein Case Documents

• Release Highlights: Hundreds of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation were made public.
• Notable Content:
  • Multiple photos feature former President Bill Clinton and Mick Jagger; context is scarce due to redactions.
    "There are multiple photos of former President Bill Clinton... Another one is labeled Saint Trop Clinton Morocco nude... faces are blacked out... to protect any potential victims." — John Celcier, [00:53]
  • Clinton spokesperson asserts the investigation is not focused on Clinton.
• Timestamps: [00:40] to [01:16]

3. New Hampshire Shooting Suspect Found Dead

• Situation: Claudio Neves Valente, suspect in the Brown University-related shootings, was found deceased two days post-mortem in New Hampshire.
• Timestamps: [01:16] (brief mention)

4. Drug Pricing Reform—'Most Favored Nation' Program

• Update: More pharmaceutical companies are joining a Trump administration initiative to lower US prescription prices, matching those in other developed countries.
• Officials say:
  • "This represents the greatest victory for patient affordability in the history of American healthcare, by far." — Lisa LaCera quoting Trump administration stance, [01:16]
• Timestamps: [01:16] to [02:02]

5. Florida Double Homicide—Ex-Husband Murders

• Case Details:
  • Susan Avalon is accused of murdering both of her ex-husbands in separate incidents.
  • A complex custody dispute and child support debt were involved.
  • Notable moment: When police told Avalon they wanted to talk about her ex, she replied:
    "Which one?" — Lillian Wu, [02:39]
  • Trick used: She allegedly stole a Panera Bread order to lure her second ex-husband.
  • Authorities found the first ex-husband dead after a welfare check prompted by her comment.
• Timestamps: [02:31] to [03:21]

6. Maryland Moves Toward Redrawing Congressional Maps

• Process:
  • Governor Wes Moore's advisory commission voted 3-2 to propose new maps in a non-public, virtual meeting.
  • Criticism emerges over lack of transparency and the sense that the outcome is “predetermined.”
  • National context: Follows former President Trump’s calls for Republican-led states to redraw maps ahead of the midterms.
• Notable quote:
  • "Critics...aren't happy with the closed door meeting, saying the outcome was predetermined and lacked transparency." — Tanya J. Powers, [03:24]
• Timestamps: [03:21] to [04:05]

7. Overturned Conviction in Jam Master Jay Murder Case

• News:
  • Judge in New York nullifies the conviction of Carl Jordan Jr., one of the two convicted in the murder of Jam Master Jay.
  • Notable twist: Despite an eyewitness claiming Jordan pulled the trigger on his own godfather, the conviction is set aside after nearly two years.
• Timestamps: [04:05] to [04:30]

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• "This is not the beginning of a war. It's a declaration of vengeance." — Pete Haggs ([00:11])
• "There are multiple photos of former President Bill Clinton... faces are blacked out... to protect any potential victims." — John Celcier ([00:53])
• "Which one?" — Susan Avalon, suspect in double homicide (reported by Lillian Wu, [02:39])
• "Critics...aren't happy with the closed door meeting, saying the outcome was predetermined and lacked transparency." — Tanya J. Powers ([03:24])

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Timeline of Major Segments

• [00:02 – 00:40]: U.S. retaliatory strikes in Syria after deadly ISIS attack
• [00:40 – 01:16]: DOJ releases Epstein files; Clinton, Jagger images noted
• [01:16 – 02:02]: Prescription drug pricing reform update
• [02:31 – 03:21]: Florida double-ex-husband homicide case
• [03:21 – 04:05]: Maryland congressional redistricting controversy
• [04:05 – 04:30]: Overturned conviction in Jam Master Jay’s murder

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Summary

This update is rapid-fire, concise, and focused on significant national headlines, mixing breaking security developments, controversial legal proceedings, political maneuvering, and high-profile criminal cases. The reporting style is direct, neutral, and to-the-point, fitting for an hourly news summary audience.

Transcript

[Lisa Lacera]

Targeting ISIS in Syria. I'm Lisa Lacera. Fox News Secretary of War Pete Haggs says it's a retaliatory move just following.

[John Celcier]

The deaths of three U.S. citizens. In a post on social media, Secretary Haigs is saying, quote, this is not the beginning of a war. It's a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trump's leadership, will never hesitate and never lend to defend our people, end quote. Two Iowa National Guard members and a U.S. civilian interpreter were killed Dec. 13 in an attack in the Syrian desert that the Trump administration has blamed on the Islamic State group. The slain National Guard members were among hundreds of U.S. troops deployed in eastern Syria.

[Lisa Lacera]

Fox's John Celcier President Trump posted on Truth Social that the Syrian government backs the operation. The Justice Department has released hundreds of documents related to the sex trafficking investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

[John Celcier]

There are multiple photos of former President Bill Clinton. He is clearly recognizable, along with rock star Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones. Another one is labeled Saint Trop Clinton Morocco nude. There are redactions, but we don't have much context. In some cases, faces are blacked out. The Justice Department says that is to protect any potential victims.

[Lisa Lacera]

Fox's Mic Emanuel, a Clinton spokesperson issuing a statement saying the investigation isn't about Bill Clinton. The Office of the Medical examiner in New Hampshire says Claudio Neves Valente, the suspect in the shootings at Brown University, and Emma Mit, had been dead for two days before he was found last night in a storage facility in the state. More drug makers joining a Trump administration program intended to drop prices of prescription drugs, joining a most favored nation's agreement to sell popular medications at the same price in the US as other developed countries. This represents the greatest victory for patient affordability in the history of American healthcare, by far. America is listening to FOX News.

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[Lisa Lacera]

A Florida woman is under arrest and both of her ex husbands are dead in what authorities believe are related homicide investigations.

[Lillian Wu]

Authorities believe Susan Avalon shot and killed her second ex husband in Tampa, Florida, Wednesday before traveling to Manatee county where she killed another ex, one she'd been divorced from for about 11 years, court records showing the pair were involved in long running custody disputes and that she owed him thousands in child support. Police say she stole a Panera Bred order to trick him into opening his door, then fired on the victim, who told detectives before he died that Avalon may have been the shooter. When investigators told her they wanted to speak about her ex, she asked which one, leading them to call in a welfare check on the ex. In Tampa, he was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Lillian Wu, Fox News.

[Lisa Lacera]

Maryland is moving closer to redrawing its congressional maps.

[Tanya J. Powers]

Maryland Governor Wes Moore's Redistricting Advisory Commission has voted to move forward with recommending new congressional maps for the state. The vote, which was 3 to 2, was held in a virtual meeting on Thursday night that was not listed on the commission's website and was not open to the public. Moore, a Democrat, appointed the panel last month, charging it with making sure the district maps drawn in 2022 are fair. Critics, including some from Moore's own party, aren't happy with the closed door meeting, saying the outcome was predetermined and lacked transparency. The question over map lines comes after President Trump encouraged red states to reconfigure their maps to favor Republicans ahead of next year's midterms. Tanya J. Powers, Fox News.

[Lisa Lacera]

The judge of New York has thrown out the conviction of one of the two men found guilty of the 2002 killing of Run DMC DJ Jam Master Jay Carl Jordan Jr. Has been acquitted nearly two years after a jury found him guilty. An eyewitness had testified he saw Jordan pull the trigger on his own godfather. I'm Lisala Serra. This is Fox News.

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