9PM ET 12/20/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update

Episode: 9PM ET 12/20/2025 Newscast
Date: December 21, 2025
Host: Roger Stern (FOX News Podcasts)

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Episode Overview

This episode covers the U.S. military response to ISIS attacks in Syria, protests over the renaming of the Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington, Australia’s proposed crackdown on hate speech after a deadly attack, the latest developments in a double-murder homicide case at Brown University and MIT, and new U.S. policy moves against Venezuela.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

U.S. Strikes on ISIS in Syria

0:03 – 0:59

• Context: The U.S. launched targeted airstrikes on ISIS targets in Syria, named Operation Hawkeye Strike, following the killing of two Iowa National Guard soldiers and their interpreter.
• Details of the Strike:
  • Over 70 ISIS sites in central and northern Syria were targeted.
  • All U.S. personnel involved returned safely.
  • The exact number of ISIS casualties was not disclosed.
• Presidential Remarks:
  • President Trump addressed the strikes at a rally in North Carolina, emphasizing military strength and precision:

    "I ordered a massive strike on the terrorists that killed our three great patriots last week. Two soldiers, one interpreter, all great people. And it was very successful. It was precision. We hit every site flawlessly and we are restoring peace through strength." — President Trump [00:33]

Kennedy Center Protest over Renaming

0:59 – 1:40

• Event: Protest held outside the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. by the group "Hands off the Arts," criticizing plans to rename the center the Trump-Kennedy Arts Center.
• Political Reaction:
  • Senator Chris Van Hollen delivered a speech condemning the president and the board’s decision:

    "We've got a president who doesn't respect the arts. All he respects is cash from his donors and billionaire buddies. He's in office to enrich himself and his family and the billionaires who were standing behind him when he was sworn in on Inauguration Day." — Sen. Chris Van Hollen [01:20]

  • The Trump-appointed board voted for the change, but Democrats argue that only Congress has the authority to rename the center.

Australia Crackdown on Hate Speech After Deadly Attack

2:58 – 3:43

• Incident: Following a deadly Hanukkah celebration attack at Bondi Beach, Australia is instituting stricter laws on hate speech and demonstrations.
• Pending Legislation:
  • Outlawing phrases such as "globalize the intifada," cited as inciting violence against Jews.
  • Banning hate symbols, including Hamas and Nazi flags.
  • Implementing stricter gun ownership rules, including a large voluntary buyback to remove firearms from circulation.
• Recognition: Ahmed Al Ahmed, credited as a hero during the shooting, received a $1.5 million award for his actions.

Brown University & MIT Shooting Investigation

3:43 – 4:33

• Case Details:
  • Two murders—one at Brown University and one of an MIT professor—are linked by a ballistic match.
  • The investigation was advanced by an unusual tip: a homeless man posted on Reddit, which tipped police off about a rental car, leading to the suspect.
• Suspect Identified: 48-year-old Claudio Neves Valente, a Portuguese national and former Brown Ph.D. physics student, is under investigation.
• Motivation: The motive for the killings remains undetermined.
• Credit: Police acknowledged the homeless man’s social media post for "really cracking this case wide open." — Brooke Taylor [03:56]

U.S. Pressure Campaign Against Venezuela

4:33 – 4:55

• Development: U.S. forces intercepted a vessel off Venezuela’s coast for the second time in under two weeks.
• Policy: President Trump has instituted a naval blockade as part of efforts to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump on U.S. Military Response:

  "We are restoring peace through strength. We're all over the world." [00:33]

• Sen. Chris Van Hollen Criticizing President Trump:

  "All he respects is cash from his donors and billionaire buddies." [01:20]

• Law Enforcement Credit to Citizen Tip:

  "Police crediting a homeless man for posting on Reddit for really cracking this case wide open after a six day manhunt." — Brooke Taylor [03:56]

• Australian Lawmakers on Hate Speech:

  "They're going to outlaw the phrase globalize the intifada... trying to also outlaw hate symbols, flags from parties like Hamas and the Nazi party as well." — Steve Harrigan [03:09]

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• U.S. Strikes ISIS in Syria: 00:03 – 00:59
• Kennedy Center Naming Protest: 00:59 – 01:40
• Australia’s Crackdown on Hate Speech: 02:58 – 03:43
• Brown / MIT Shooting Update: 03:43 – 04:33
• U.S. Moves Against Venezuela: 04:33 – 04:55

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This snapshot provides a clear overview of the most urgent international, political, and domestic developments for late December 2025, reflecting Fox News' priorities and tone throughout the newscast.

Transcript

[A]

The U.S. strikes back. I'm Roger Stern, Fox News. The world wonders what's next after the US Carried out targeted strikes against ISIS targets in Syria last night in response to the killing of three U.S. personnel. Fox's Lucas Tomlinson.

[B]

Operation Hawkeye strike named in honor of the Two soldiers from the Iowa National Guard and their American interpreter were killed last week in Syria.

[A]

But.

[B]

But what CENTCOM called a lone ISIS gunman. President Trump spoke about the strikes last night at a rally in Rocky Mountain, North Carolina.

[C]

I ordered a massive strike on the terrorists that killed our three great patriots last week. Two soldiers, one interpreter, all great people. And it was very successful. It was precision. We hit every site flawlessly and we are restoring peace through strength. We're all over the world.

[B]

Over 70, 70 Islamic State targets were hit across central and northern Syria last night.

[A]

The Pentagon did not say how many ISIS members were killed. All US Personnel returned safely. A protest today outside the Kennedy Arts center in Washington. A group opposing government censorship. Hands off the arts. Is upset over plans to rename the building the Trump Kennedy Arts Center. Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen addressed the crowd.

[D]

We've got a lot of work to do. We've got a president who doesn't respect the arts. All he respects is cash from his donors and billionaire buddies. He's in office to enrich himself and his family and the billionaires who were standing behind him when he was sworn in on Inauguration Day.

[A]

The Trump appointed board of trustees voted Thursday to add Trump to the art center's name. Democrats say only Congress can make that change. America is listening to Fox News.

[E]

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[A]

Simplisafe. Australia getting tough on certain speech. After last week's deadly Hanukkah celebration attack at Bondi beach, we are going.

[F]

To see likely some new restrictions both on hate speech and on demonstrations here in Australia in the wake of Sunday's attack that left 15 dead. Lawmakers here say they're going to outlaw the phrase globalize the intifada, which means for many trying to legitimize violent attacks against Jews. They're trying to also outlaw hate symbols, flags from parties like Hamas and the Nazi party as well. The government is also planning new restrictions on gun ownership. They're planning a massive voluntary buyback of hundreds of thousands of weapons to then melt them down, get them off the.

[A]

Street. Fox's Steve Harrigan Ahmed Al Ahmed, the hero of the mass shooting, received a check for more than one and a half million dollars for his bravery. We're learning more about the suspect in the Brown shooting and the MIT professor.

[G]

Murder. The two guns that were found with the suspect are a match to both shootings at Brown University and the murder of an MIT professor. Now this case, it took a lot of wild twists and turns. Police crediting a homeless man for posting on Reddit for really cracking this case wide open after a six day manhunt. Now that tip from that homeless guy, it led police to a rental car company where they learned who they were looking for. Investigators identifying the suspect as 48 year old Claudio Neves Valente. Here, he's a Portugal national and a former Brown Ph.D. physics.

[A]

Student. Fox's Brooke Taylor. We don't know the killer's motive. Today for the second time in less than two weeks, U.S. forces stopped a vessel off Venezuela's coast. In President Trump had announced a pressure campaign to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and that effort includes a naval blockade. I'm Roger Stern and this is FOX.

[H]

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[F]

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