Fox News Hourly Update

Episode: The Weather Outside is Frightful in Some Places
Date: December 24, 2025
Host: Dave Anthony (FOX News Podcasts)

Episode Overview

This episode covers critical national and international news just ahead of Christmas Eve. The main focuses are severe weather impacting Southern California, a tragic police shooting in Delaware, an explosion at a Pennsylvania nursing home, economic updates, international conflicts in Russia/Ukraine and Thailand/Cambodia, and a light-hearted update on the NORAD Santa Tracker. The tone remains urgent and factual, with quick transitions between different headlines.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Severe Weather in Southern California

• [00:02] Dave Anthony reports intense rain in Southern California, particularly perilous in regions still recovering from January wildfires.
• This has triggered flash flood watches and evacuation orders.
• [00:15] Mayor Karen Bass:

  “My message to Angelenos as we go into the Christmas holiday is to stay safe, be prepared and stay informed.”

• [00:23] Britta Merwin (Fox Weather Meteorologist) explains the severity:

  "So the highest urgency of flash flood preparedness needed for Southern California. And we do drop it to a level three for tomorrow. So unfortunately, we're looking at several inches of rain in areas that are very hard hit from the recent burn scars." [00:29]

• The risk is especially high in "burn scar" regions particularly vulnerable to flash flooding due to vegetation loss from recent fires.
• [00:41] Northern California is also facing possible flooding.

2. Trooper Murder in Delaware

• [00:47] Dave Anthony details the murder of a Delaware state trooper at a DMV.
• Rashawn Rich (State Police Spokesman):

  “The suspect approached a trooper who was working an overtime assignment sitting at the reception desk and shot him.”

• The officer reportedly "pushed a DMV worker out of the way before being shot again" [00:55].
• The gunman was killed by police at the scene.

3. Explosion at Pennsylvania Nursing Home

• [01:13] Hank Flynn (FOX 29 TV) from the scene in Bristol Township:

  “There were initially believed to be three deaths here. One of the people taken to Lower Bucks Hospital was resuscitated, so it remains two dead, 20 hospitalized as an explosion yesterday afternoon rocked this Silver Lake nursing home and REH rehabilitation facility.”

• Investigation is ongoing, with a suspected natural gas leak being considered as the cause.

4. Economic Update

• [01:27] Dave Anthony shares latest employment data:
  • Unemployment claims slightly down: 214,000 new claims.
  • Ongoing claims are up by 38,000, totaling 1.92 million.
  • Contrast: "Some of us have to work on Christmas Eve, but not government employees."
• [01:40] Narration about President Trump’s executive order:

  "President Trump signed an executive order adding today and Friday to the Christmas Day federal holiday...just for this year. It would require an act of Congress to create a permanent federal holiday."

• Gives federal workers a longer holiday weekend, but the change is temporary.

5. International News: Russia & Thailand

• [02:31] Moscow:
  • Another explosion leaves three dead (including two police officers).
  • Follows a recent car bombing that killed a Russian general.
  • Investigation ongoing into Ukraine's possible involvement.
  • Ukraine’s President Zelensky notes "consensus on several key issues in US Brokered peace talks" but continued disagreement over territorial control.
• [02:57] Southeast Asia (Jonathan Savage reporting):
  • Ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia has not halted hostilities over territory along their border.
  • The rushed ceasefire in October was witnessed by President Trump, but fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands near the conflict zone.

  “It’s a decades old dispute that flared up this year with deadly consequences. Even a President Trump backed ceasefire deal hasn’t halted hostilities between Thailand and Cambodia.” [02:57]

6. Christmas Update: NORAD Santa Tracker

• [03:37] Tonya J. Powers shares the history and current outreach of NORAD’s Santa Tracker:

  "Every year on December 24, the North American Aerospace Defense Command tracks Santa's sleigh as he makes his way around the world...You can track santa@noradsanta.org or call 1-877-Hi-NORAD from 4am until midnight, Mountain Standard Time."

• [04:16] Dave Anthony adds:

  "I'm looking at that tracker now. It says Santa's in Japan and the gifts delivered counter is up to 1.09 billion."

• A light-hearted segment providing holiday levity amidst heavier headlines.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Karen Bass [00:15]:
  "My message to Angelenos as we go into the Christmas holiday is to stay safe, be prepared and stay informed."
• Britta Merwin [00:29]:
  "The highest urgency of flash flood preparedness needed for Southern California... we're looking at several inches of rain in areas that are very hard hit from the recent burn scars."
• Rashawn Rich [00:47]:
  "The suspect approached a trooper who was working an overtime assignment sitting at the reception desk and shot him."
• Hank Flynn [01:13]:
  "It remains two dead, 20 hospitalized as an explosion yesterday afternoon rocked this Silver Lake nursing home and REH rehabilitation facility."
• Jonathan Savage [02:57]:
  "It's a decades old dispute that flared up this year with deadly consequences. Even a President Trump backed ceasefire deal hasn't halted hostilities between Thailand and Cambodia."
• Tonya J. Powers [03:37]:
  "The tradition of tracking Santa started in 1955 when a young child accidentally called the unlisted phone number of the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center...and it's been going on ever since."

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:02] – Southern California Weather Emergency
• [00:15] – Mayor Karen Bass Urges Preparedness
• [00:23] – Meteorologist: Flash Flood Risk
• [00:47] – Delaware Trooper Shooting
• [01:13] – Pennsylvania Nursing Home Explosion
• [01:27] – Economic Update & Federal Holiday Order
• [02:31] – Explosions & Conflict in Russia; Ukraine Peacetalks
• [02:57] – Thailand-Cambodia Conflict
• [03:37] – NORAD Santa Tracker
• [04:16] – Santa Tracker Live Update

Summary

This episode of Fox News Hourly Update delivers a concise but comprehensive sweep of urgent weather news in California, a law enforcement tragedy in Delaware, a deadly Pennsylvania explosion, current stats on unemployment, and significant updates from global hotspots. It closes on a festive, communal note with the NORAD Santa tracker, offering listeners both timely warnings and a touch of holiday cheer.