11PM ET 01/04/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update

Episode: 11PM ET 01/04/2026 Newscast
Date: January 5, 2026
Host: Daria Albinger (FOX News Podcasts)
Duration (news content): ~4 minutes 36 seconds

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Episode Overview

This Fox News Hourly Update delivers a concise roundup of major global and national events as of January 4, 2026. Key topics include the upcoming arraignment of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in New York City, air travel disruptions due to U.S. military action, responses to drone attacks involving Russia and Ukraine, severe flooding in California, and coordinated UK-France airstrikes on ISIS in Syria. The cast maintains its signature brisk, informative tone throughout the broadcast, emphasizing critical headlines and live reports from correspondents.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Maduro Arraignment and U.S. Military Action

[00:02]

• Nicolas Maduro, former Venezuelan leader, faces arraignment in NYC tomorrow for charges linked to narcotics trafficking and corruption.
• Political Responses:
  • New York City Mayor Zoram Mamdani called President Trump to criticize recent military action in Venezuela.
  • NY Attorney General Letitia James on X:

    “Maduro was a brutal dictator who caused pain and suffering, while adding that she also believes in the Constitution…‘I am deeply concerned with the administration's continued abuse of the rule of law’.”
    (CB Cotton quoting Letitia James @00:26)

• DOJ's four-count indictment alleges Maduro orchestrated a drug pipeline:

  "Turning Venezuela into a drug pipeline to flood the U.S. with 'thousands of tons of cocaine.'"
  (CB Cotton @00:48)

• Observations note that opposition to the federal case is unlikely to affect legal proceedings.

2. Air Travel Disruptions After Venezuela Strike

[01:08]

• Hundreds of flights canceled by major carriers after U.S. military action in Venezuelan airspace.
• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has announced plans to reopen Caribbean airspace, but delays expected as airlines recover.
• Affected carriers: American Airlines, Delta, United, Frontier, Spirit, and JetBlue.
• Impact includes a backlog of both flights and passengers.

3. Ukraine-Russia Drone Strike Claims

[01:36]

• President Trump disputes Kremlin claims:
  • U.S. national security officials confirm Ukraine did not target the Russian President’s residence in last week’s drone attack.
  • Trump reportedly expressed “deep concern” but stands by U.S. intelligence findings.

4. Severe Flooding in Marin County, California

[02:39]

• Marin County residents and businesses combat ongoing flooding, using sandbags and tarps.
• Testimony from a local gym employee:

  “We had the sandbag wall break yesterday and that got water into the lobby. So we'd have to refortify that, get some more sandbags. We have a lot of great employees, employees that came in and worked on their day off, members that came in and volunteered. So we got a lot of help, a lot of great people.” (02:55)

• Record-breaking tides reported in San Francisco Bay, Alameda, Redwood City, Martinez, and Richmond.
• National Weather Service warns rain to continue another day.

5. UK and French Airstrikes on ISIS in Syria

[03:32]

• UK Ministry of Defense confirms guided bomb strikes on an ISIS weapons facility north of Palmyra.
  • Targeted to avoid civilian areas; “all aircraft returned safely.”
  • French military participated, aiming to prevent ISIS resurgence.
  • Both countries part of the larger U.S.-led coalition against ISIS.
• Stephanie Bennett reports:

  "Careful intelligence analysis identified an underground facility in the mountains north of Palmyra... initial indications show it was a successful mission and all aircraft returned safely." (03:43)

6. Honoring Victims of Swiss Bar Fire

[04:19]

• In Krans, Montana, Switzerland, hundreds march in silence to honor the 40 victims of a tragic New Year's Eve bar fire.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Letitia James on the administration and rule of law:

  “I am deeply concerned with the administration's continued abuse of the rule of law.” (CB Cotton quoting @00:26)

• Gym employee on community response to flooding:

  “We have a lot of great employees, employees that came in and worked on their day off, members that came in and volunteered. So we got a lot of help, a lot of great people.” (02:55)

• Stephanie Bennett on UK/French airstrikes:

  "Initial indications show it was a successful mission and all aircraft returned safely." (03:53)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:02 — Arraignment expected for Nicolas Maduro
• 00:11 — Political reactions to Venezuela military action
• 01:08 — Airline disruptions following U.S. military action
• 01:36 — President Trump on Russia/Ukraine drone strike
• 02:39 — Flooding impacts in Marin County, California
• 03:32 — UK & French airstrikes on ISIS in Syria
• 04:19 — Swiss march honors victims of bar fire

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Episode Tone & Language

The episode maintains a direct, succinct, and neutral news delivery. Field reports and interviews add local color, especially in coverage of the California floods and international military actions. Quotes from officials and affected individuals are incorporated to provide immediacy and credibility.

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This update offers a snapshot of fast-moving global events, geared toward listeners tracking significant legal, political, and humanitarian developments.

Transcript

[Daria Albinger]

Maduro the next steps. I'm Daria Albinger, Fox News. Arraignment expected tomorrow in New York City for former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

[CB Cotton]

The support for the US Military action has largely fallen along party lines. And we know New York City Democratic Socialist Mayor Zoram Mamdani said he directly called President Trump yesterday to criticize the Venezuelan strikes. New York State Attorney General Letitia James wrote on X yesterday, maduro was a brutal dictator who caused pain and suffering, while adding that she also believes in the Constitution and as such, quote, I am deeply concerned with the administration's continued abuse of the rule of law. It's unlikely that any of this opposition will have any impact because this is a federal case against Maduro. The DOJ's four count superseding indictment accuses him and his allies of turning Venezuela into a drug pipeline to flood the U.S. with, quote, thousands of tons of cocaine.

[Daria Albinger]

That's Fox's CB Cotton. You might want to call ahead if you have a flight booked to or through Caribbean airspace over the next few days.

[Paul Stevens]

Hundreds of flights had to be canceled by major carriers because of Saturday's US Military action in Venezuela. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announcing a reopening of that airspace. But it could take a few days for many carriers to get back on schedule regarding numerous flights and a full day's worth of passengers. American Airlines, Delta, United Frontier Airlines, Spirit airlines, airlines and JetBlue Airways all observed airspace closures. Paul Stevens, Fox News.

[Daria Albinger]

President Trump says US national security officials have determined Ukraine did not target a residence belonging to Russian President Putin in a drone attack last week. That disputes Kremlin claims that Mr. Trump had expressed a deep concern about it. America is listening to Fox News.

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[Daria Albinger]

In California, Marin county residents are doing their best to keep floodwaters out of their businesses and their homes. Fox TV affiliate KTVU Fox 2 San Francisco's Devin Truby has more.

[Reporter at Flood Scene]

Asset fitness surrounded their business with tarps and dozens of sandbags.

[Gym Employee]

We had the sandbag wall break yesterday and that got water into the lobby. So we'd have to refortify that, get some more sandbags. We have a lot of great employees, employees that came in and worked on their day off, members that came in and volunteered. So we got a lot of help, a lot of great people.

[Reporter at Flood Scene]

The gym says they have just some water damage in the lobby, but it's manageable. Siking tides on Saturday breaking many records set back in 1998. According to the National Weather Service, tides were supposed to be two and a half feet above high tide. Point Reyes, San Francisco Alameda reporting their highest tide since 1998. Redwood City. Martinez Richmond reporting their highest on record.

[Daria Albinger]

It's expected to continue raining for at least another day. British and French forces carried out airstrikes on ISIS targets in Syria. Fox's Stephanie Bennett in London has details.

[Stephanie Bennett / Ainsley Earhart]

The UK Ministry of Defense says careful intelligence analysis identified an underground facility in the mountains north of Palmyra. Officials believe it was storing weapons and explosives and the area surrounding it was away from civilians using guided bombs to target several access tunnels down to the facility. The Ministry of Defense says initial indications show it was a successful mission and all aircraft returned safely. The French military said the strikes were aimed at preventing the resurgence of the ISIS group as the fight against terrorism remains a priority for France and its partners. Britain and France are part of the U. S led coalition that has been fighting ISIS militants for more than a decade.

[Daria Albinger]

This after American strikes in Syria last month. Hundreds marched in silence on Sunday in the Swiss resort of Krans, Montana to honor victims of a New Year's Eve bar fire that killed 40. I'm Daria Albinger. This is Fox News.

[Stephanie Bennett / Ainsley Earhart]

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

[Daria Albinger]

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