9PM ET 12/30/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update: 9PM ET Newscast – December 30, 2025

Overview

This edition of the Fox News Hourly Update, hosted by John Saucier, delivers rapid-fire coverage of breaking national and international news headlines. The main focuses include alleged daycare fraud in Minnesota, a high-profile legal case concerning a Salvadoran migrant, major U.S. military operations against ISIS, ongoing tensions in the Arabian Peninsula, President Trump's actions in Venezuela, and the passing of a notable member of the Kennedy family.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Alleged Daycare Fraud in Minnesota

• Deputy Secretary of Health & Human Services Jim O’Neill announced new restrictions on child care payments nationwide in response to alleged fraudulent activities in Minnesota's daycare centers.
  • “We require a justification receipt or photo evidence before we make a payment.” (Jim O'Neill, 00:13)
• The measure follows a viral video from independent journalist Nick Shirley, alleging millions in payments to centers with no children in attendance.
• Minnesota Governor Tim Walz responded, stating the state had already undertaken substantial anti-fraud efforts and framing the federal cut as part of “Trump’s long game.”
• Federal funding to Minnesota’s child care system is now paused pending review.

Legal Case: Vindictive Prosecution of Salvadoran Migrant

• Judge Waverly Crenshaw is reconsidering the prosecution of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran human smuggling defendant.
• Evidence indicates the case only became a department priority after an erroneous deportation order.
  • “District Judge Waverly Crenshaw has canceled the upcoming trial and instead ordered a hearing next month on whether the prosecution is vindictive and selective.” (Jared Halpern, 00:53)
• ICE states it will not detain Abrego Garcia again while the judge’s ban stands.

U.S. Military Operations in Syria

• U.S. Central Command reports the elimination/capture of nearly 25 ISIS operatives after an ambush killed two U.S. troops and one civilian interpreter.
  • 11 missions executed in 10 days followed initial strikes on ISIS weapons sites and infrastructure. (01:30)

Saudi Arabia–UAE Tensions Over Yemen

• Saudi Arabia bombed the Yemeni port of Mukalla following alleged deliveries of UAE weapons to separatists.
  • Saudi views the delivery as a direct threat; UAE denies supplying weapons (only vehicles were sent).
  • “The strike deepens the division between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, geographic neighbors in the Arabian Peninsula.” (Grinhal Scott, 03:12)
• Southern Transitional Council (Yemeni separatists) decry the Saudi action as unjustified.

U.S.–Venezuela–Iran: Sanctions & Military Action

• U.S. Treasury announces new sanctions on 10 individuals/entities linked to Venezuela and Iran.
• President Trump recently ordered a complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers in and out of Venezuela and approved strikes targeting alleged drug smuggling operations off Latin America’s coast.
  • “If [Iran] will continue with the missiles, yes. The nuclear fast.” (President Trump, 04:07)
  • U.S. forces also struck a Venezuelan dock used for alleged drug transport.
• International Response: China and Russia accuse the U.S. of violating international law after the U.S. seized multiple oil tankers.

Obituary: Tatiana Schlossberg

• Tatiana Schlossberg, environmental journalist and granddaughter of President John F. Kennedy, has died at age 35 after battling leukemia.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jim O’Neill (HHS Deputy Secretary):
  • “We require a justification receipt or photo evidence before we make a payment.” (00:13)
• Jared Halpern (Fox Correspondent):
  • “District Judge Waverly Crenshaw has canceled the upcoming trial and instead ordered a hearing next month on whether the prosecution is vindictive and selective.” (00:53)
• President Trump: (on Israeli strikes)
  • “If [Iran] will continue with the missiles, yes. The nuclear fast.” (04:07)
• Grinhal Scott (Fox Correspondent):
  • “The strike deepens the division between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, geographic neighbors in the Arabian Peninsula.” (03:12)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Daycare Fraud & Federal Funding Actions – 00:03–00:24
• Judge Questions Migrant Prosecution – 00:53–01:30
• U.S. Military Strikes on ISIS in Syria – 01:30–02:00
• Saudi Strikes on Yemen/UAE Tensions – 03:02–03:50
• Trump’s Campaign Against Maduro & Iran – 03:50–04:37
• Tatiana Schlossberg’s Passing – 04:37–05:00

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Summary

This Fox News Hourly Update covers a range of pressing national and international news with an emphasis on escalating U.S. enforcement actions (both domestic and abroad), diplomatic tensions, ongoing legal controversies, and a notable obituary. The reporting is urgent, policy-focused, and features direct statements from both officials and news correspondents, offering listeners concise but comprehensive insights into evolving global issues.

Transcript

[A]

Shutting off the spigot. I'm John Saucier. FOX News Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim o' Neill announcing on social media platform X that they are reacting to alleged fraud at daycare centers in Minnesota.

[B]

I have activated our defend the spend system for all ACF child care payments across America starting today. We require a justification receipt or photo evidence before we make a payment.

[A]

Minnesota Governor Tim Walls pushing back in his post on X saying fraudsters are a serious issue that the state has spent years cracking down on. But this move is ra part of, quote, Trump's long game. Health and Human Services cutting the funding of Minnesota daycare centers while the issue was reviewed. All this following a now viral video by independent journalist Nick Shirley which alleges to show daycare centers receiving millions of dollars in funding with no children in attendance. A federal judge is questioning if a migrant from El Salvador is being vindictively prosecuted by the Trump administration. Here's fox's Jared Halpern with more from Washington.

[C]

A federal judge says there is evidence a human smuggling case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia became a top priority for the Justice Department over only after the migrant from El Salvador was erroneously deported and then ordered to return to the US A newly unsealed order in Abrego Garcia's criminal case is offering new details about the decision making process of federal prosecutors. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw has canceled the upcoming trial and instead ordered a hearing next month on whether the prosecution is vindictive and selective. Attorneys for Abrego Garcia are seeking a dismissal of the case. In in Washington, Jared Halpern, FOX News.

[A]

ICE says it does not plan to detain Abrega Garcia again as long as the judge's order banning it stands. And the US military says nearly 25 ISIS operatives were killed or captured in Syria this month after an ambush that killed two American troops and one civilian interpreter. U.S. central Command, which oversees the Middle east, saying 11 missions were carried out over the past 10 days following initial strikes against ISIS weapon sites and infrastructure. America is listening to FOX News.

[D]

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[B]

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[A]

Saudi Arabia strikes a major port in Yemen, which it viewed as an entry point for weapons sent from the United Arab Emirates to separatist forces. Fox's Colonel Scott explains the Saudi bombing.

[E]

Run focused on the port city of Mukala after UAE ships carrying weapons and combat vehicles arrived there. Saudi leaders believe the shipment was earmarked for separatists and posed an imminent threat to the kingdom. The UAE's foreign ministry denies any shipment of weapons for Saudi Enem said there were vehicles sent to the port in Yemen for Emirates operatives there. The strike deepens the division between Saudi Arabia and the UAE Geographic neighbors in the Arabian Peninsula, the separatists known as the Southern Transition Council, say the Saudi escalation is unjustified. Grinhal Scott, FOX News.

[A]

President Trump is pushing his campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as his administration launched a series of strikes targeting alleged drug boats off the coast of Latin America in recent months and also recently announced a complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going in and out of Venezuela. Fox's Lucas Tomilson is on West Palm Beach, Florida, with the latest.

[B]

The Treasury Department is announcing new sanctions on 10 individuals and entities tied to Venezuela and Iran. And yesterday, President Trump was asked would he support Israeli strikes against Iran targeting its ballistic missile and nuclear programs if they will continue with the missiles. Yes, the nuclear fast. And in the Pacific, US Forces continue its strikes on alleged drug. President Trump told reporters the United States struck a dock in Venezuela used to transport drugs China and Russia.

[A]

They're speaking out about the US Actions in the region, accusing the United States of breaking international law after the US Seized multiple oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela. And we're learning that Tatiana Schlossberg, an environmental journalist and one of the late President John F. Kennedy's three grandchildren, has died at the age of 35 after a battle with leukemia. I'm John Saucier and this is FOX News.

[F]

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