9PM ET 12/25/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update — 9PM ET 12/25/2025 Newscast

Date: December 26, 2025
Host: Kevin Uretsky (FOX News Podcasts)
Episode Theme: Key U.S. and International Developments — Military Action Against ISIS, U.S.-Venezuela Relations, Notable Legal Case, and Supreme Court Ruling

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Episode Overview

This hour’s Fox News update delivered coverage of major U.S. military and political developments, including President Trump’s Christmas evening military strikes against ISIS in Nigeria and new U.S. policy maneuvering towards Venezuela. The broadcast also covered a high-profile reckless homicide charge against a TikTok personality, ongoing legal battles over Missouri’s redistricting, and a significant Supreme Court decision regarding the deployment of National Guard troops to Illinois.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Strikes Against ISIS in Nigeria

(00:02–00:37; 04:15–04:30)

• Announcement: President Trump declared, via Truth Social, that the U.S. conducted military strikes against ISIS targets in Nigeria in response to ongoing persecution and killings of Christians.

• Background: The Trump administration has previously criticized the Nigerian government for failing to curb violence against Christians. There have been high-level meetings, and threats to cut off U.S. aid to Nigeria.

  Notable Quote:

  • President Trump: “Our country will not allow radical Islamic terrorism to prosper.” (00:37, read by Kevin Uretsky)
  • Madison Scarpino reported: “This is an issue in Africa that has caught the president's attention for a bit now…even threatening to cut off aid to the country.” (00:22–00:36)

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2. U.S. Policy and Quarantine of Venezuelan Oil

(00:37–01:29)

• Venezuelan Oil Quarantine: The U.S. military has been instructed to enact a quarantine on Venezuelan oil for a minimum of two months (as reported by Reuters via a U.S. Official). Economic pressure is preferred, but military options are not excluded.

• Ongoing Pressure on Maduro: President Trump stepped up his pressure campaign, urging President Nicolás Maduro to leave office amidst U.S. military strikes on alleged cartel boats in the Caribbean.

• Venezuelan Response: Officials in Caracas argue that the U.S. government, not Venezuela, presents a real threat.

  Notable Quote:

  • “The Trump administration is more interested in using economic pressure as opposed to military force, though military options remain on the table.” — Ryan Schmelz (00:52–01:29)

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3. Reckless Homicide Charge for Social Media Influencer

(01:29–02:01)

• Incident: Tinessa McCarty Wroten (“Teatime” on TikTok) was charged with reckless homicide after allegedly running over and killing a pedestrian in suburban Chicago during a livestream.
• Police Response: Several TikTok viewers alerted authorities as they witnessed the incident live; Wroten is being held without bond.

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4. Missouri Redistricting Legal Battle

(02:32–03:14)

• Republican Gains: GOP strategies in redistricting aim to secure nine new Republican-leaning seats across several states, including Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, and Missouri.

• ACLU Challenge: The Missouri ACLU is contesting new district lines, particularly the division of Kansas City, supported by 300,000 petitioner signatures seeking a state ballot challenge.

• Election Timeline Concerns: The Republican attorney general contends the new districts stay in effect until signatures are validated, possibly extending past the candidate filing period for 2026 midterms.

  Notable Quote:

  • “Republicans are banking on nine new GOP leaning seats ahead of midterms…But the ACLU in Missouri is now challenging the GOP effort to carve up Kansas City in court.” — Jessica Rosenthal (02:39–02:55)

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5. Supreme Court on Illinois National Guard Deployment

(03:14–04:15)

• SCOTUS Ruling: The U.S. Supreme Court rejected President Trump’s attempt to deploy the National Guard to Illinois, upholding a lower court’s restraining order.

• Context: The decision comes after Texas National Guard troops were previously sent to Chicago to protect federal property following violent ICE-protester clashes.

• Legal Reasoning: The Court held that proper legal processes were not followed, as Trump did not first deploy regular military units before invoking authority to use state National Guard forces.

  Notable Quote:

  • “The president called Chicago a mess and said he would solve the crime problem fast…Well, the court argued because Trump had not first legally deployed regular military…he had no basis to deploy the Guard.” — Brooke Taylor (03:41–04:15)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “Our country will not allow radical Islamic terrorism to prosper.”
  – President Trump, via Truth Social (00:37)

• “This is an issue in Africa that has caught the president's attention for a bit now…even threatening to cut off aid to the country.”
  – Madison Scarpino (00:22–00:36)

• “The Trump administration is more interested in using economic pressure as opposed to military force, though military options remain on the table.”
  – Ryan Schmelz (00:52–01:29)

• “Republicans are banking on nine new GOP leaning seats ahead of midterms…But the ACLU in Missouri is now challenging the GOP effort to carve up Kansas City in court.”
  – Jessica Rosenthal (02:39–02:55)

• “Well, the court argued because Trump had not first legally deployed regular military…he had no basis to deploy the Guard.”
  – Brooke Taylor (03:57–04:10)

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:02–00:37 — Breaking: U.S. military strikes ISIS in Nigeria
• 00:37–01:29 — U.S. oil quarantine and pressure campaign on Venezuela
• 01:29–02:01 — Social media influencer charged with reckless homicide in Chicago
• 02:32–03:14 — Missouri redistricting legal challenge
• 03:14–04:15 — Supreme Court rejects National Guard deployment to Illinois
• 04:15–04:30 — Recap of the hour’s top story: ISIS strikes in Nigeria

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Summary

This episode provided rapid updates on high-stakes U.S. military, executive, and judicial maneuvers at home and abroad. Headlines included decisive action against ISIS in Nigeria, continued pressure on Venezuela, the consequences of social media recklessness, legal struggles over redistricting, and a Supreme Court check on presidential deployment powers. The coverage maintained FOX News’ signature brisk, direct tone, providing both breaking news and deeper context for each issue.

Transcript

[A]

This is a FOX News alert going after isis. I'm Kevin Uretzky. Fox News President Trump announcing on Truth Social this Christmas evening military strikes against ISIS targets in Nigeria, accusing that group of persecuting and murdering Christians. Fox's Madison Scorpiono has the details.

[B]

This is an issue in Africa that has caught the president's attention for a bit now. He's previously lashed out on the country's government for having done nothing to stop the killing. His administration, the administration has even met with Nigerian officials to discuss the issue, even threatening to cut off aid to the country.

[A]

President Trump riding on Truth Social tonight saying, quote, our country will not allow radical Islamic terrorism to prosper. Meanwhile, the White House is issuing new marching orders to the US Military. When it comes to Venezuela, military forces.

[C]

Are being told to focus on a quarantine of Venezuelan oil for the next two months minimum. That, according to Reuters, citing a US Official, says the Trump administration is more interested in using economic pressure as opposed to military force, though military options remain on the table. President Trump continued his pressure campaign this week on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, saying it would be smart for him to leave office while continuing military strikes on alleged cartel boats in the Caribbean. Venezuelan officials have said the US Government is the threat, not Venezuela. In Washington, Ryan Schmelz, FOX News.

[A]

A social media personality has been charged with reckless homicide and the death of a pedestrian. Tinessa McCarty Wroten, better known as Teatime on TikTok, was livestreaming when she allegedly ran over a 59 year old man in suburban Chicago in November. Several TikTok users who saw the livestream contacted police. The 43 year old content creator now being held without bond. America is listening to FOX News.

[D]

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[A]

In the mid decade redistricting wars, Democrats in Missouri are fighting back. Fox's Jessica Rosenthal has more.

[E]

So far in redistricting, Republicans are banking on nine new GOP leaning seats ahead of midterms next year. Five in Texas, one in North Carolina, two in Ohio and one in Missouri. But the ACLU in Missouri is now challenging the GOP effort to carve up Kansas City in court. They say 300,000 signatures protesting the change is sufficient to force the issue onto a ballot before voters. But the Missouri Republican attorney general says the redrawn districts will remain in effect until the Republican secretary of state validates the signatures. And that can take time even beyond the candidate filing period, which goes from February 24th through the end of March. Jessica Rosenthal, FOX News.

[A]

Meanwhile, the US Supreme Court rejecting President Trump's bid to send the National Guard to Illinois earlier this week, leaving in place the previous ruling by a federal judge in Chicago that barred the White House from deploying troops to the state. It comes after nearly 300 National Guard troops from Texas were deployed to Chicago in early October to help protect federal property after violent clashes between ICE officers and protesters. Here's fox's Brooke Taylor.

[B]

The president called Chicago a mess and said he would solve the crime problem fast, arguing the deployment was necessary in order to crack down on crime and protect residents and federal ICE officers. Well, Trump has relied on a law that let the president deploy state National Guard troops to, quote, suppress a rebellion, repel an invasion, or if he is unable, with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States. Well, the court argued because Trump had not first legally deployed regular military to support law enforcement, he had no basis to deploy the Guard.

[A]

And again, our top story this hour, the US Hitting ISIS sites in Nigeria over the killing and persecution of Christians there. I'm Kevin Uretsky and this is Fox.

[D]

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