Supreme Court Rules National Guard Cannot be Deployed to Illinois

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – December 23, 2025

Episode Theme:
The main focus of this episode is breaking news about the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling restricting the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops in support of immigration enforcement in Illinois. The episode also features coverage of a major legal win for sanctuary states, an explosion at a Pennsylvania nursing home, holiday travel updates, the announcement of President Trump’s “Golden Fleet” battleships, and a Wall Street update.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Supreme Court Blocks National Guard Deployment in Illinois

• [00:02] Tom Ragati reports that the Supreme Court has refused the Trump administration’s emergency request to permit deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago targeting illegal immigration.

  • The justices declined to overturn prior decisions from a U.S. District judge and an appeals court that both blocked the troop deployment.
  • This moves checks the executive branch’s efforts to influence immigration enforcement at the state and local levels.

  Tom Ragati (00:02): “The Supreme Court is refusing to allow the Trump administration to deploy National Guard troops in the Chicago area to support its illegal immigration crackdown.”

2. Federal Funding and Sanctuary States

• [00:35] Jared Halpern covers a Rhode Island judge’s ruling barring the administration from withholding federal grants from states with sanctuary policies.

  • 12 state attorneys general had challenged the administration’s attempt to “punish” non-cooperating states by cutting grants.
  • Judge Mary McElroy called the administration’s approach “unconscionable and unlawful.”
  • This strengthens sanctuary states’ positions against federal pressure on immigration policy.

  Jared Halpern (00:41): “Judge Mary McElroy says holding funding hostage solely on what appears to be political whims is unconscionable and unlawful.”

3. Pennsylvania Nursing Home Explosion

• [01:07] Live report on a serious explosion in Bristol, Pennsylvania, at the Silver Lake Nursing Home.

  • Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is on the scene; gas smell was noted before the explosion.
  • [01:36] Eyewitness Ainsley Earhart describes the damages:

    Ainsley Earhart (01:36): “The dining hall, the admissions part to the hospital is going. All the windows are blown out. I’m just praying for everybody at the nursing home.”

  • Ongoing rescue efforts; parts of the building collapsed and people are confirmed to be inside.
  • Officials have launched an investigation and rescue operation.

  Josh Shapiro (01:43): “Officials say part of the building has collapsed and that people are inside. An investigation and rescues are underway.”

4. Holiday Travel Surge & Flight Delays

• [03:14] At Chicago O’Hare, holiday air travel is heavy but not breaking all-time records yet.

  • Notable drop in cancellations compared to previous days, but thousands of delays persist.
  • TSA screening numbers reaching 2.7 million daily, below the post-Thanksgiving peak.

  Ainsley Earhart (03:14): “Yesterday there were only 133 [cancellations] compared to Friday’s 865... We’ve been hovering around the 2.7 million passenger mark screened each of the last four days. That’s not quite breaking the record just yet of 3.1 million people screened the Sunday after Thanksgiving.”

• Hawaii is identified as the most popular holiday travel destination.

5. “Golden Fleet” Battleships Announcement

• [04:00] Max Gordon reports on President Trump’s ambitious naval expansion – the brand new “Trump class” battleships.

  • First two ships to begin construction in the early 2030s; still in the design phase.
  • Ships touted as “100 times more powerful” than previous models, to include railguns, lasers, hypersonic, and nuclear missiles.
  • The Navy aims to build 20–25 ships. While Trump denies they target China, analysis suggests strategic implications.

  Max Gordon (04:09): “President Trump says that these new Trump class battleships will be 100 times more powerful than any other battleship previously constructed. Equipped with advanced weaponry including railguns, lasers, hypersonic missiles and nuclear missiles.”

6. Wall Street Update

• [04:36] Tom Ragati: U.S. markets achieve new highs following positive economic growth data.
  • S&P 500 up 0.5%, NASDAQ rises by 133 points.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tom Ragati (00:02):
  “The Supreme Court is refusing to allow the Trump administration to deploy National Guard troops in the Chicago area to support its illegal immigration crackdown.”

• Jared Halpern (00:41):
  “Judge Mary McElroy says holding funding hostage solely on what appears to be political whims is unconscionable and unlawful.”

• Ainsley Earhart (01:36):
  “The dining hall, the admissions part to the hospital is going. All the windows are blown out. I’m just praying for everybody at the nursing home.”

• Max Gordon (04:09):
  “President Trump says that these new Trump class battleships will be 100 times more powerful than any other battleship previously constructed.”

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Important Timestamps

• 00:02: Supreme Court ruling on National Guard deployment
• 00:35: Sanctuary states win in federal funding case
• 01:13–01:50: Pennsylvania nursing home explosion coverage
• 03:14: Holiday air travel report
• 04:00: Announcement of Trump’s “Golden Fleet” battleships
• 04:36: Wall Street market summary

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Summary

This packed update delivers major national news with impactful legal, political, and societal consequences. From the Supreme Court’s rebuke of federal overreach to emotional eyewitness testimony from a Pennsylvania disaster, the episode maintains high relevance and urgency. Insightful reporting on both travel and defense developments, as well as positive economic indicators, round out the hour. The tone is direct, urgent, and ensures listeners remain informed on pressing national issues.

Transcript

[Tom Ragati]

The Supreme Court restricts the president. I'm Tom Ragati, FOX News. The Supreme Court is refusing to allow the Trump administration to deploy National Guard troops in the Chicago area to support its illegal immigration crackdown. The justices today declined the administration's emergency request to overturn a ruling by a US District judge that had blocked the deployment of troops. An appeals court also had refused to step in. A federal judge has ruled the Trump administration cannot strip federal security funding from Democratic states over sanctuary status. Fox Jared Halperin reports.

[Jared Halpern]

A judge in Rhode island says the Trump administration cannot reallocate federal funding away from states for refusing to cooperate with immigration enforcement. The ruling is a win for a coalition of 12 attorneys general who sued the administration earlier this year after being told their states would receive far less in federal grants due to sanctuary policies. Judge Mary McElroy says holding funding hostage solely on what appears to be political whims is unconscionable and unlawful. In Washington, Jared Halpern, FOX News.

[Tom Ragati]

Pennsylvania authorities and first responders are at the scene of an explosion at a nursing home. Here's fox's Granal Scott.

[Josh Shapiro]

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro says he's been briefed on an apparent explosion at a nursing home facility in Bristol. State police are there at the scene. A cause has not been confirmed, but a gas company spokesman said crews at the facility noticed the smell of gas before the incident. One witness described damage she saw when she arrived at the Silver Lake nursing Home.

[Ainsley Earhart]

The dining hall, the admissions part to the hospital is going. All the windows are blown out. I'm just praying for everybody at the nursing home.

[Josh Shapiro]

Officials say part of the building has collapsed and that people are inside. An investigation and rescues are underway.

[Tom Ragati]

Grnaul Scott, FOX News America is listening to FOX News.

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[Tom Ragati]

One most trusted app based on August 2024 proprietary survey. Over 500, 000 new listings every month based on average new for sale and rental listings. February 2024 through January 2025. Triple A is predicting record setting travel this holiday season and a lot of that is by air. So what are we seeing in terms of delays and cancellations? Fox Business Network's Kelly Saberry is at o' Hare International Airport in Chicago.

[Ainsley Earhart]

Things are picking up, but if it all shapes out like yesterday, there might not be that many cancellations. Yesterday there were only 133 compared to Friday's 865. That brings us to to today's numbers. So far we know that there's about 3300 delays and almost 100 cancellations now from less traffic in the skies to less movement in the TSA lines, we've been hovering around the 2.7 million passenger mark screened each of the last four days. That's not quite breaking the record just yet of 3.1 million people screened the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

[Tom Ragati]

The most popular destination this holiday season, Hawaii. President Trump puts America back in the battleship business after 30 years. A new Trump class which he calls the Golden Fleet.

[Max Gordon]

We don't know exactly when they're going to be ready, but President Trump does say that work is going to begin on the first two of these battleships immediately. Currently, they're still in the design phase. And then the Department of War will begin construction sometime in the early 2000-30s. President Trump says that these new Trump class battleships will be 100 times more powerful than any other battleship previously constructed. Equipped with advanced weaponry including railguns, lasers, hypersonic missiles and nuclear missiles. The Navy plans to build a total of between 20 to 25 of the ships. While President Trump denied that the new battleships are meant to counter China, the country does pose a threat to the United States naval dominance.

[Tom Ragati]

That's Fox Business Network's Max Gordon in Los Angeles. Wall street closed at another record following a surprisingly strong report on economic growth over the summer. The S&P 500 rose 0.5% today, 31 points beating the all time high it reached earlier this month. Dow at 79. The NASDAQ rose 133. I'm Tom Brigatti. This is FOX News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

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

[Tom Ragati]

Jesus, 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.