Fox News Hourly Update: 11AM ET 02/02/2026 Newscast

Host: FOX News Podcasts
Date: February 2, 2026

Episode Overview

This newscast delivers a rapid-fire roundup of key national and international news for the hour, focusing on political strife over immigration policy and ICE, protests at Target headquarters, the continuing partial government shutdown, major developments at the Rafah border crossing in Gaza, and cultural moments from the Grammy Awards, including their intersection with ongoing immigration debates. The episode also covers new Congressional actions against the Clintons relating to the Epstein investigation, and closes with a Wall Street market update.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Minneapolis Protests & Target’s CEO

• Protests against ICE at Target HQ:
  Anti-ICE demonstrations are ongoing outside Target's headquarters in Minneapolis, responding to recent detentions of two Target employees in Richfield, MN by federal agents.
  • Protesters are calling for the new Target CEO "to take a stand against ICE, calling for a ban on federal agents in their stores." (Brooke Taylor, 00:17)
  • Since last month’s cell phone video surfaced, "there have been protests and sit ins at dozens of stores." (Brooke Taylor, 00:17)

Political Reactions & Government Shutdown

• Democratic Calls for ICE Reform:
  Anger over deadly shootings and confrontations at immigration raids is mounting.

  • Rep. Hakeem Jeffries denounced ICE:

    "ICE agents should conduct themselves like every other law enforcement agency in the country as opposed to running around mass thugs in many instances unleashing brutality."
    (Hakeem Jeffries, 00:47)

• Stalemate Over Homeland Security Funding:
  The standoff has contributed to "day three of a partial government shutdown," with Congress wrestling over a funding compromise. (Dave Anthony, 01:00)

• Partisan Rhetoric:

  • Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) draws parallels to past shutdowns:

    "This is Groundhog Day all over again. We're witnessing what we witnessed back in the fall with the Democrats."
    (Buddy Carter, 01:05)

  • Carter accuses Democrats of:

    "Putting illegal immigrants above the American citizens. Now they're doing it again."
    (Buddy Carter, 01:13)

• Funding Stopgap:
  House Republicans are pushing a Senate compromise to fund the government through September, but the Department of Homeland Security would only get two weeks' funding amid ICE reform negotiations. (Dave Anthony, 01:18)

Rafah Crossing in Gaza Opens

• Significant Humanitarian Update:
  The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt has "reopened by Israel after recovering the last dead hostage. Hamas took in the terror attack that started the war." (Dave Anthony, 01:18)
  • "A few dozen people allowed in and out at first with no cargo allowed through," while "thousands ... needing medical care have been waiting to get out." (Chris Foster, 01:38)
  • Many others also waiting to return to Gaza.

Cultural News: Grammys and Immigration

• Grammys’ Historic Wins & Political Statements:

  • Kendrick Lamar sets a record: "27 career Grammys, more than any rapper ever." (Dave Anthony, 02:04)
  • Artists including Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish use their acceptance speeches to speak out against ICE:
    • Billie Eilish:

      "No one is illegal on stolen land."
      (Ainsley Earhart quoting Eilish, 02:33)

  • Host Trevor Noah stirs controversy with a joke referencing Trump, Greenland, and Epstein:

    "That is a Grammy that every artist wants almost as much as Trump wants Greenland. Which makes sense. I mean, because Epstein's island is gone, he needs a new one to hang out with Bill Clinton... Oh, I told you, it's my last year. What are you gonna do about it?"
    (Trevor Noah, 02:45)

• Presidential Response:
  Donald Trump responds angrily on social media, threatening to sue Trevor Noah and "calling him pathetic and talentless and wrong and defamatory." Trump emphasizes, "he's never been to Epstein island." (Dave Anthony, 03:01)

Congressional Actions: Clinton-Epstein Investigation

• House Rules Committee Targets Clintons:
  Votes expected "later this week on whether to refer [the Clintons] to the Justice Department for criminal charges" for refusing to testify before the House Oversight Committee about Jeffrey Epstein.
  • The latest batch of "Epstein files" includes names like Bill Gates and Elon Musk, indicating connections to both Clinton and Trump.
    (Tanya J. Powers, 03:24)
  • Recap: Epstein "killed himself in a New York jail in 2019 after being indicted for sex trafficking in New York." (Tanya J. Powers, 03:24)

Wall Street Update

• Strong Market Start:
  "Gains to start the new week and new month: The Dow up 414 points. The NASDAQ rising 95." (Dave Anthony, 04:02)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (00:47):

  "ICE agents should conduct themselves like every other law enforcement agency ... as opposed to running around mass thugs ... unleashing brutality."

• Rep. Buddy Carter (01:05, 01:13):

  "This is Groundhog Day all over again. We're witnessing what we witnessed back in the fall..."
  "Putting illegal immigrants above the American citizens. Now they're doing it again."

• Billie Eilish via Ainsley Earhart (02:33):

  "No one is illegal on stolen land."

• Trevor Noah (02:45):

  "That is a Grammy that every artist wants almost as much as Trump wants Greenland..."

• President Trump's Response (03:01):

  "calling [Trevor Noah] pathetic and talentless and wrong and defamatory."

Notable Timestamps

• 00:02: Minneapolis protests at Target HQ begin coverage
• 00:36: Hakeem Jeffries’ statement on ICE
• 01:00: Partial government shutdown update
• 01:18: Gaza Rafah crossing opens for limited evacuations
• 02:04: Grammy Awards headlines and political speeches
• 02:33: Billie Eilish’s statement at the Grammys
• 02:45: Trevor Noah’s controversial Grammy monologue
• 03:01: President Trump’s response on social media
• 03:24: House moves to hold Clintons in contempt over Epstein hearings
• 04:02: Market update and wrap-up

This episode provides a brisk, high-impact survey of the day’s defining political, international, and cultural developments—offering both headline news and key reactions from public figures, with the fast-paced tone typical of FOX News Radio.