The country spent much of this past week fixated on those mysterious drones flying over New Jersey and other parts of the country.

But one story that was under the radar for many was the Pentagon's release of a report on China warning of the nation’s rapid military buildup and expansion of its nuclear program.

Earlier this week, I spoke with New Jersey Republican Congressman Chris Smith, Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.

We discussed his concerns about our adversaries' growth, and he explained how bad decisions made by the US policymakers over the last several decades have ‘aided and abetted' China’s human rights violations and their continued aggression on the world stage.

The New Jersey congressman, of course, also weighed in on those drones… and laid out why he does not believe the Biden administration’s statements regarding the matter and believes many are nefarious--perhaps even being operated by our foreign foes.

We often must cut interviews short during the week, but we thought you might like to hear the full interview.

Today on Fox News Rundown Extra, we will share our entire with Representative Chris Smith, allowing you to learn even more about his concerns with China, including allegations of child labor and human organ harvesting.

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Will a wild week in Washington foreshadow what to expect from President-elect Trump's second term in office? As Congress stared down a government shutdown, President-elect Trump and Elon Musk took to X to shoot down the 1547-page Continuing Resolution. It wasn't until Friday evening that Democrats came together with some Republicans to pass the temporary government funding bill. FOX News Senior White House Correspondent Jacqui Heinrich breaks down what this all could mean for the incoming administration.

American diplomats visited the Syrian capital of Damascus for the first time in over a decade last week, meeting with the leader of the Islamist rebel group Ha'yat Tahrir al-Sham -- the terrorist organization that has largely taken control of the region after ousting former President Bashar Assad. Now, as various rebel groups with differing agendas aim to fill this new power vacuum in Syria, how can the U.S. act to ensure a dangerous terror group like ISIS doesn't take control of Syria? FOX News Foreign Correspondent Alex Hogan shares the significance of Americans meeting with HTS, what could happen if Syria permanently fell under the control of terrorists, and how this potential future reality could be avoided.

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Thousands of Amazon workers from California to New York remain on strike as the Teamsters try to pressure the retail giant into allowing them to join contract negotiations. Workers at seven facilities have been striking over the company’s refusal to recognize the union and its contract negotiation needs. The Teamsters only represent ten thousand of the million and a half Amazon employees and Amazon says this strike will not disrupt holiday deliveries.

FOX’s Eben Brown speaks with Madison Alworth, FOX Business Network correspondent reporting from outside an Amazon delivery hub in Maspeth, NY, who says Amazon has told FOX Business that the work stoppage has been created and “manufactured” by the Teamsters.

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Amazon warehouse workers are striking this week, pushing for higher wages and improved benefits and safety conditions. A local Teamster president said the strike will last “as long as it takes” but Amazon tells customers last-minute holiday orders will not be impacted.

In Washington, the Federal Reserve cut rates by a quarter point—in line with expectations. Fed Chair Jerome Powell signaled that the inflation data guides future rate cut decisions…but is the battle to rein in rising prices over yet?

Fox Business correspondent Lydia Hu speaks with President and Chief Investment Officer at Equinox Partners Investment Management Sean Fieler to discuss how unions are testing their political capital and what to expect from inflation and interest rates in 2025.

Photo Credit: AP

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President Biden is still commander in chief for about another month, yet it seems like President-elect Donald Trump has already taken over. Yet, Biden did attend the Democratic National Committee's holiday party over the weekend, where he confidently said he believes he has left the country in better shape than when he took office. FOX News Sunday Anchor Shannon Bream joins to discuss how the President-elect is already influencing policy, the fate of TikTok, and the mysterious drones flying over New Jersey.

Congress is scrambling to avoid a government shutdown right before the holidays, and President-elect Trump has stirred up another debate on the debt ceiling, which he says should be eliminated. The call to end the debt ceiling has divided the Republican party, with some lawmakers openly opposing the President-elect. Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joins the Rundown to discuss what should be done about the debt ceiling, the fight to secure the Southern border, and what the first 100 days of President-elect Trump's administration will look like.

Plus, commentary from the host of “Tomi Lahren is Fearless on Outkick,” Tomi Lahren.

Photo Credit: AP

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Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan just weeks ago, is now back in the custody of New York law enforcement. The alleged murder was extradited from Pennsylvania and now faces new federal murder charges. The new charges include stalking and murder which carry a possible death sentence.

FOX’s John Saucier speaks with Bryan Llenas, FOX News correspondent reporting from outside the Blair County Courthouse, Hollidaysburg, PA, who describes dozens of law enforcement officers showed up to the extradition and details the new federal charges the suspect faces.

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The Pentagon released a new report on China outlining their efforts to increase military capabilities to rival the United States. China is ramping up nuclear warhead production, aiming to build 1,000 by 2030, along with increased investment in drone programs. Stateside, drone sightings and the lack of information from the government have caused a stir with citizens and local politicians. New Jersey Republican Congressman Chris Smith joins the Rundown to discuss China's increased military capabilities, his theories on the drone sightings across the Northeast, and shares details from his Autism CARES Act.

The fight to raise the minimum wage has been taking place across the nation for the past several years. Soon, nearly two dozen states will have wages starting at over $15 an hour. These increases will have helped folks marginally, with wages still not keeping pace with quickly rising costs of living necessities. Co-host of The Big Money Show, Brian Brenberg joins to share how increased minimum wage has impacted businesses and their workers, later reflecting on the 2024 economy as a whole.

Plus, commentary by columnist David Marcus.

Photo Credit: AP

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A group of female lawmakers are sharing their frustration with the nearly one hundred hostages, including three Americans, that remain in Hamas custody in Gaza. Its been nearly four hundred fifty days after Hamas attacked killing and kidnapping Israelis from toddlers to senior citizens. President-elect Trump has promised that "all hell will break loose" if all the hostages are not let go by the time he takes office in January.

FOX’s Eben Brown speaks with Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL), who was at an event outside the White House Wednesday with the 'Bipartisan Women’s Caucus' calling for all hostages to be immediately released.

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The mysterious drones spotted flying over New Jersey and at least six other states have captured Americans' attention, creating worry and concern over their source for over a week now. Government agencies issued a joint statement on Monday saying there is no evidence that these drones are a threat to national security or public safety. So when will Americans have more answers on these peculiar sightings? Military affairs analyst Dr. Paul Schwennesen joins to explain the evolution of drone technology and what exactly drones of this size could be capable of.

How will artificial intelligence shape our future? While AI holds the promise of significant benefits for humanity, there are also concerns about its potential misuse. A bipartisan House task force has just released a report with recommendations for smart regulation, aiming to position America as a leader in this emerging field. California Republican Congressman Jay Obernolte, co-chair of the task force, joins the Rundown to discuss how AI can revolutionize our lives for the better and why Congress must establish protections to prevent potential harm.

Plus, commentary from FOX News Contributor Tammy Bruce.

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On Tuesday, Russian general Igor Kirillov was killed via an explosive device planted within his apartment. Ukrainian Security Services have since claimed credit for the assassination, calling Kirillov “a war criminal and entirely legitimate target.” 

FOX’s John Saucier speaks with FOX News contributor and former CIA Station Chief Dan Hoffman about how the killing may change the Russian-Ukraine war, and later Dan weighs in on the mysterious drone sightings in the U.S.

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