Major storm to slam Midwest with vicious winds, blizzard conditions

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update

Episode: Major storm to slam Midwest with vicious winds, blizzard conditions

Date: December 28, 2025
Host: Paul Stevens (A), with reporting from Jared Halpern (B), FOX Meteorologist (C), and Chad Pergram (F)

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Main Theme

This episode delivers the latest national and international headlines, detailing pressing geopolitical developments, severe winter weather forecasts, notable legal updates from Brazil, upcoming U.S. political battles, and a tribute to French cinema icon Brigitte Bardot.

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Key Discussion Points

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1. Ukraine Ceasefire Negotiations

[00:02 – 00:47]

• Presidents Meet for Peace Negotiations:
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meeting President Trump at Mar-a-Lago, hoping to close a potential ceasefire deal in Ukraine’s war with Russia.
  • “President Trump is pushing a 20 point peace plan. The Ukrainian leader says about 90% of that proposal is ready.” – Jared Halpern (B) [00:18]
  • Key sticking points: Security guarantees, territorial disputes, and Russian insistence that Ukraine cede the Donbas region.
  • Compromise gesture: Zelenskyy’s conditional willingness to withdraw Ukrainian troops from Donbas if Russia reciprocates, aiming to create a demilitarized economic zone. Russia remains resistant.
  • Coverage provided by Jared Halpern from Washington.

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2. Major Winter Storm to Hit the Midwest

[00:47 – 01:31]

• Weather Warning:
  • The Northeast just experienced heavy winter weather, but attention now shifts to an even larger system targeting the Midwest.
  • “We’ve got a big winter weather maker here over the next couple of days... At times this is going to be a blizzard.” – FOX Meteorologist (C) [00:58]
  • Impacted regions: Minnesota, Iowa, the Dakotas, the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan.
  • Expected consequences: As much as a foot of snow, wind-driven blizzard conditions reducing visibility, and airport delays.
  • “Lake effect snow totals near the Great Lakes could hit 18 inches in spots.” – Paul Stevens (A) [01:31]

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3. International News: Attack in Syria

[01:31 – 02:00]

• Deadly Bombing:
  • Hundreds mourn in Homs, Syria, after a mosque bombing killed eight and wounded eighteen others.
  • The mosque is in a neighborhood mostly home to a religious minority.
  • A little-known extremist group claims responsibility.

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4. Legal Update: Brazil’s Political Turmoil

[02:16 – 02:52]

• House Arrest for Coup Plotters:
  • “A Brazilian judge ordering house arrest for 10 people convicted in a plot to keep former President Jair Bolsonaro in power after he lost his election in 2022.” – Paul Stevens (A) [02:16]
  • An ex-police commander was recently extradited from Paraguay, accused of cutting off his ankle monitor and fleeing the country.
  • Those sentenced include a former Bolsonaro advisor. Appeals are expected.

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5. U.S. Politics: 2026 Midterms Outlook

[02:52 – 03:31]

• Senate Battles Intensify:
  • “Republicans bullish on maintaining Senate control. Retirements by Democratic senators in Michigan and Minnesota could create challenges for Democrats.” – Chad Pergram (F) [02:52]
  • Republican hopes rise in Minnesota (“the Gopher State”).
  • Democrat Graham Plantner in Maine may face Susan Collins; Plantner’s controversial online history could become an issue.
  • Georgia’s Jon Ossoff described as the “most vulnerable Democrat.” His runoff win in 2020 and stance during government shutdown votes likely to face scrutiny.
  • Democrats are targeting potential GOP-held seats as well.

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6. Federal Government Faces Shutdown Threat

[03:31]

• The U.S. government must reach a budget agreement by next month (January) to avoid a shutdown.

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7. Obituary: Brigitte Bardot

[03:34 – End]

• Legacy of a French Cinema Icon:
  • “Brigitte Bardot, the French film icon who defined 1960s glamour before reinventing herself as a fierce animal rights activist, has died at 91.” – Paul Stevens (A) [03:34]
  • Rose to fame in “And God Created Woman.”
  • Later modeled for Marianne, the symbol of the French Republic, and retired young from acting to focus on animal rights.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “President Trump is pushing a 20 point peace plan. The Ukrainian leader says about 90% of that proposal is ready.”
  — Jared Halpern (B) [00:18]

• “We’ve got a big winter weather maker here over the next couple of days... At times this is going to be a blizzard.”
  — FOX Meteorologist (C) [00:58]

• “Lake effect snow totals near the Great Lakes could hit 18 inches in spots.”
  — Paul Stevens (A) [01:31]

• “A Brazilian judge ordering house arrest for 10 people convicted in a plot to keep former President Jair Bolsonaro in power after he lost his election in 2022.”
  — Paul Stevens (A) [02:16]

• “Republicans bullish on maintaining Senate control. Retirements by Democratic senators in Michigan and Minnesota could create challenges for Democrats.”
  — Chad Pergram (F) [02:52]

• “Brigitte Bardot, the French film icon who defined 1960s glamour before reinventing herself as a fierce animal rights activist, has died at 91.”
  — Paul Stevens (A) [03:34]

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Timestamps: Important Segments

• [00:02] Ukraine ceasefire talks and Trump’s peace plan
• [00:47] Major winter storm forecast for the Midwest
• [01:31] Syrian mosque bombing update
• [02:16] Brazilian political plotters sentenced
• [02:52] U.S. 2026 midterms and Senate outlook
• [03:31] Upcoming government shutdown warning
• [03:34] Brigitte Bardot’s life and legacy

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This concise, information-packed episode covered significant global and domestic events, delivering fast and focused news for listeners needing an efficient yet comprehensive update.

Transcript

[A]

A key session. I'm Paul Stevens, Fox News. Ukraine's president sits down with President Trump today in Florida trying to close a ceasefire deal in their war with Russia.

[B]

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's trip to Mar? A Lago follows weeks of U. S backed talks with Ukrainian and Russian negotiators. President Trump is pushing a 20 point peace plan. The Ukrainian leader says about 90% of that proposal is ready. And and he and President Trump will discuss security guarantees and territorial issues. So far, Russia has not agreed to the framework, insisting Ukraine cede the Donbas region in the eastern part of the country. Zelensky has agreed to withdraw troops from that region if Russia does the same to create a demilitarized economic zone. In Washington, Jared Halpern, Fox News.

[A]

The northeastern US Hit with a winter wallop Friday night into Saturday morning. Now the Midwestern portion of the country is the target for another big system. Fox News meteorologist.

[C]

We've got a big winter weather maker here over the next couple of days as this big storm move across the Midwest. At times this is going to be a blizzard. The upper Midwest there, Minnesota, Iowa, getting into the Dakotas, even over towards the UP So this is a big winter weather maker that begins really today as you're going to see some heavy snowfall. Obviously anybody flying out of those locations will see at least some sort of delays across the upper Midwest as we watch this system shift from the Northern plains across the Great Lakes. Maybe as much as a foot of snow with a whole lot of wind with this, that is when you start to see blizzard conditions because the visibility.

[A]

Drops pretty drastically and some lake effect. Snow totals near the Great lakes could hit 18 inches in spots. Hundreds of mourners gathering in rain and coal for funerals in the Syrian city of Homs after a bombing killed eight people. The attack hitting a mosque in a neighborhood largely home to a religious minority. It also wounded 18 others. A little known extremist group has claimed responsibility. America is listening to FOX News.

[D]

This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of Jesus.

[E]

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.

[A]

A Brazilian judge ordering house arrest for 10 people convicted in a plot to keep former President Jair Bolsonaro in power after he lost his election in 2022. That ruling coming just hours. A former police commander was arrested in Paraguay and extradited back to Brazil. Authorities say he cut off his angle monitor, fled by car and tried to get on a flight using false documents. Those now under house arrest include a former Bolsonaro advisor whose lawyer says an appeal to that is coming. Midterms coming up next year in 2026, both parties eyeing key swing states.

[F]

Republicans bullish on maintaining Senate control. Retirements by Democratic senators in Michigan and Minnesota could create challenges for Democrats. Republicans hopeful about winning the Gopher State. Republicans are optimistic that Democrats will nominate controversial candidates. Democratic populist Graham Plantner in Maine wants to face Republican Susan Collins, but Plantner has a history of inflammatory posts online. Georgia's Jon Ossoff is perhaps the most vulnerable Democrat. He won a runoff as president. Trump challenged the 2020 Georgia election results. Republicans intend to target Ossoff, highlighting his votes against opening the government. But Democrats think they could swipe some seats from the GOP.

[A]

And that's Fox's Chad per Bergram in D.C. all this coming is the government also has to reach another budget deal or face, yes, another possible government shutdown coming up next month in January. Brigitte Bardot, the French film icon who defined 1960s glamour before reinventing herself as a fierce animal rights activist, has died at 91. Her foundation confirming she passed away today at her home in southern France. She became a global sensation with the movie and God Created Woman, later serving as a model for France's national symbol, Marianne. She retired from film only in her 30s, devoting her life then to animal protection. I'm Paul Stevens. This is FOX News.