The Economy is Growing and President Trump is Glowing

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Fox News Hourly Update

Episode: The Economy is Growing and President Trump is Glowing

Date: December 23, 2025

Host: FOX News Podcasts (Dave Anthony, Ainsley Earhart, Jared Halpert, Hilary Barski)

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Overview

This Fox News Hourly Update highlights major national news stories with a focus on robust U.S. economic growth, recent developments in the Jeffrey Epstein case, political updates ahead of the midterm elections, medical breakthroughs, and a stock market update. The tone is swift, urgent, and fact-focused, reflecting Fox News' signature delivery style.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Economic Growth and Political Reaction

• Economic Highlights

  • The U.S. GDP grew by 4.3% in the third quarter, half a percent higher than the previous quarter.
  • Dave Anthony attributes much of this performance to Trump-era policies and tariffs, echoing the President’s own praise of a “Trump economic golden age.”
  • Despite strong growth, the consumer confidence index has fallen to its lowest since tariffs were first enacted (April), signaling persisting public concern over affordability.

• Political Response

  • Democrats criticize President Trump for an "affordability crisis," despite the positive growth figures.

Quote:
"Trump and some other geniuses got it right... The president touted it as success due to good government and tariffs, adding the Trump economic golden age is full steam ahead."
– Dave Anthony (00:03)

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2. Jeffrey Epstein Files: New Releases & Political Implications

• Document Release

  • Congress-mandated release of over 11,000 documents—court records, photos, and videos—pertaining to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation.
  • The U.S. Department of Justice notes that some documents contain “untrue and sensationalist claims” about President Trump but are included as required by law.

• Notable Mentions

  • Among the released documents: A letter to Larry Nassar allegedly from Epstein referencing President Trump, and a federal prosecutor’s memo stating that Trump flew on Epstein’s private plane several times in the 1990s.
  • Prior weeks’ documents included photographs of Bill Clinton with Epstein.

Quote:
“Some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump, but they are being released as leg required.”
– Jared Halpert (00:53)

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3. Military Counter-Narcotics Operations

• The U.S. military destroyed another boat allegedly linked to narcotics trafficking, resulting in the death of a suspected "narco-terrorist".
• Some Congressional Democrats question the legality of these operations.
• House Oversight Chair James Comer defends the transparency and justification for targeting drug smugglers.

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4. Campus Safety Update: Brown University

• Brown University's police chief placed on leave following a mass shooting that killed two students and wounded nine.
• Federal investigation underway into whether campus safety standards were adequately maintained.

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5. 2026 Midterm Elections: Candidate Announcements

• Congressional Turnover:

  • Eight senators and forty-four House members not running for re-election.

• Spotlight: Wyoming Senate Race

  • Rep. Harriet Hageman (R), Trump ally, announces bid to succeed retiring Sen. Cynthia Lummis.
  • Hageman previously gained national attention by defeating Liz Cheney in 2022 with Trump’s endorsement.

Quote:
“A possible endorsement by Trump could be coming as she becomes the first major Republican to launch a Senate bid.”
– Ainsley Earhart (02:43)

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6. Personal Update: Former Sen. Ben Sasse’s Cancer Diagnosis

• Ben Sasse (R-Nebraska) disclosed on X (formerly Twitter) that he has stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
• Sasse writes candidly about his prognosis, stating, “he has less time to live than he'd prefer.”

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7. FDA Approval: Oral GLP-1 Weight Loss Pill

• The FDA has approved the first oral GLP-1 medication (from Novo Nordisk, Wegovy), which reduces excess body weight and may lower cardiovascular risk.
• The pill will be available in January for about $149/month, providing a new option versus injectables like Ozempic.
• Novo Nordisk aims to regain market share from Eli Lilly.

Quote:
“The green light gives the Danish drug maker a leg up in the race to market an oral medication for shedding pounds as Novo looks to regain lost ground from rival Eli Lilly.”
– Hilary Barski (03:43)

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8. Wall Street and Markets Brief

• Dow Jones up 78 points; NASDAQ up 56 at the time of reporting.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “GDP growth blew past expectations, writing almost all economists got it wrong.”
  – Dave Anthony (00:03)

• “Some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump, but they are being released as leg required.”
  – Jared Halpert (00:53)

• “A possible endorsement by Trump could be coming as she becomes the first major Republican to launch a Senate bid.”
  – Ainsley Earhart (02:43)

• "Ben Sasse...announced he's been diagnosed with metastasized stage 4 pancreatic cancer, calling it nasty stuff. Writing bluntly, he's gonna die..."
  – Dave Anthony (03:21)

• “The green light gives the Danish drug maker a leg up in the race to market an oral medication for shedding pounds as Novo looks to regain lost ground from rival Eli Lilly.”
  – Hilary Barski (03:43)

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:03 — U.S. economic growth, President Trump’s reaction
• 00:53 — Epstein files released, DOJ statement
• 01:27 — Military anti-drug operation, Congressional reactions
• 01:44 — Brown University safety investigation
• 02:31 — Congressional retirements and election preview
• 02:43 — Wyoming Senate race, Hageman announcement
• 03:21 — Ben Sasse cancer diagnosis
• 03:43 — FDA approval of oral weight-loss pill
• 04:21 — Stock market update

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Conclusion

The December 23, 2025 Hourly Update balanced big-picture news on the economy and electoral landscape with urgent stories about crime, health, and new medical advancements, all delivered with Fox News’ brisk, no-nonsense style. For listeners seeking the latest headlines and the partisan framing often characteristic of Fox coverage, this episode delivered a panoramic and punchy recap of the day’s most pressing national issues.

Transcript

[Dave Anthony]

The economy's growing and the president is glowing. I'm Dave Anthony, FOX News posting on Truth Social. Trump and some other geniuses got it right. GDP growth blew past expectations, writing almost all economists got it wrong. We found out the US economy grew by 4.3% in the third quarter. That's a half percent higher than the quarter before Fox Business Network's Ashley Webster. The president touted it as success due to good government and tariffs, adding the Trump economic golden age is full steam ahead. Democrats blame the president for an affordability crisis. And we just got a consumer confidence report that does show a decline in optimism about the economy coming in at the lowest level since the tariffs were first imposed in April. There are new Epstein files out this morning as Congress mandated from the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation. 11,000 documents, court records, photos and videos.

[Jared Halpert]

In a statement attached to the latest release, the Justice Department says some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump, but they are being released as leg required. The documents include a letter to convicted sex offender Larry Nassar allegedly written by Jeffrey Epstein referencing our president. There was also a document from 2020 from a federal prosecutor indicating President Trump flew on Epstein's private plane several times in the 1990s. A batch of documents released last week include several photographs of former President Bill Clinton with Epstein.

[Dave Anthony]

That's Fox's Jared Halpert. And US Military's blown up another boat said to be trafficking illegal drugs, killing another alleged narco terrorist. Some Democrats in Congress call the OPER illegal. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, a Republican, disagrees, telling Fox the president's been transparent with Congress about the evidence they have that these in fact are drug smugglers. Brown University has put the campus police chief on leave more than a week after the mass shooting that left two students dead, nine wounded. As the federal government investigates if Brown failed to maintain campus safety standards. America's listening to Fox News.

[Chevron Representative]

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[Dave Anthony]

The new year will bring the midterm elections and a battle for control of Congress. There will be quite a few new members, eight senators, 44 House lawmakers are not running for re election, and there's news on two of them.

[Ainsley Earhart]

Out of Wyoming, Republican Representative Harriet Hageman, an ally of President Trump, says she's running for the seat of retiring GOP Senator Cynthia Lummis. Hageman's campaign launch comes four days after Lummis confirmed that she won't seek re election in next year's midterms. Hageman grabbed national attention in 2022 when, with Trump's backing, she ousted then Congressmember Liz Cheney in the Republican primary for States at Large congressional seat. In the general election, Hageman won nearly 70% of the vote, and a possible endorsement by Trump could be coming as she becomes the first major Republican to launch a Senate bid. Tanya J.

[Dave Anthony]

Powers, Fox News A former US Senator posted sad news a short time ago on X. Ben Sasse, a Republican from Nebraska, announced he's been diagnosed with metastasized stage 4 pancreatic cancer, calling it nasty stuff. Writing bluntly, he's gonna die, sass added, he has less time to live than he'd prefer. Americans who get weight loss drug injections will like hearing this.

[Hilary Barski]

The FDA has approved the first ever GLP1 pill from WeGovy maker Novo Nordisk to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term and to lessen the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. The green light gives the Danish drug maker a leg up in the race to market an oral medication for shedding pounds as Novo looks to regain lost ground from rival Eli Lilly. The pill cont. Same active ingredient in injectable Wegovy and Ozempic and will be sold under the brand name Wegovy in early January for around $149 a month. Hilary Bars ski Fox News On Wall.

[Dave Anthony]

Street stocks are rising. The Dow's up 78 points, the NASDAQ gaining 56. I'm Dave Anthony. This is Fox News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

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

[Dave Anthony]

Jesus, a listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and at foxnewspodcasts.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.