11PM ET 02/23/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update - 11PM ET 02/23/2026

Date: February 24, 2026
Host: Tom Graham (with reports from Brandy Campbell, DAV Spind, Chad Pergrim, and Ainsley Earhart)
Episode Theme:
A fast-paced roundup of breaking national headlines, severe weather impacts in the Northeast, an attempted security breach at Mar-a-Lago, political fallout for a Texas congressman, cartel violence in Mexico, and new details in the Epstein files.

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Main Themes and Overview

This newscast delivers rapid coverage of top stories affecting the U.S. in politics, public safety, weather, and scandal. It highlights the Northeast blizzard’s disruptiveness, urgent national security and political controversies, escalating cartel violence after a high-profile killing, and updates on the Epstein scandal’s ripple effects.

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Northeast Blizzard: Historic Impact and Ongoing Dangers

• [00:03–00:56]
  • The blizzard battered key cities from Baltimore to Boston.
  • Record-setting snow measured:
    • Central Park: 19.7 inches – "establishing this blizzard as one of the most powerful winter storms in the city's history." (Brandy Campbell, 00:12)
    • Providence, RI: Over 32 inches by 1pm, surpassing the historic record of 28 inches.
  • More than 500,000 Americans face power outages.
  • Massachusetts drivers advised to stay off roads.

• “Over half a million Americans are going to be without power as crews work to restore it.”—Brandy Campbell [00:34]

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Mar-a-Lago Security Breach: FBI Investigation Underway

• [00:56–01:38]
  • Incident: Armed 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin, reported missing from North Carolina, breached Mar-a-Lago grounds at 1:30am with a shotgun and gas canister.
  • President Trump was not at Mar-a-Lago.
  • Secret Service ordered him to drop his weapons; the suspect dropped the gas can but raised the shotgun and was "killed instantly" (DAV Spind, 01:28).
  • FBI is analyzing digital evidence and speaking to Martin’s contacts.

• “It still calls into question the perimeter itself and what needs to be done to make sure this does not happen again.”—DAV Spind [01:08]

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Wall Street Turmoil: Market Nosedive

• [01:38–02:00]
  • Major indices posted steep losses:
    • Dow down 822 points
    • NASDAQ down 259
    • S&P 500 down 72

• (No direct quotes or additional commentary.)

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Political Scandal: Calls for Congressman Gonzalez’s Resignation

• [02:32–03:22]
  • Alleged explicit texts between Texas Rep. Tony Gonzalez and former aide Regina Santos Avila surface.
  • At least four Republicans demand Gonzalez’s resignation.
  • The aide reportedly set herself on fire last year following an alleged affair.
  • GOP House majority at risk if Gonzalez steps down (margin would shrink to 217–214).

• “Congress needs zero tolerance for those who hold power, even if it costs the GOP its narrow majority in the House.”—Rep. Nancy Mace via Chad Pergrim [03:09]
• Gonzalez’s rebuttal: “While in Congress, not a single complaint has been levied against my office.”—Tony Gonzalez (quoted by Chad Pergrim [03:19])

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Mexico Cartel Violence: Aftermath of ‘El Mencho’ Operation

• [03:22–03:55]
  • Mexican military killed “El Mencho,” a notorious cartel leader.
  • Retaliatory violence endangers Americans – citizens ordered to shelter in place; airport closed.
  • 73 people reported dead in the raid, including 25 Mexican National Guard members.

• “Anything you do beyond that point is on you, basically… But when you’re here, someone could come in. So that’s unnerving.”—Unnamed American in Mexico (DAV Spind [03:43])

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Epstein Files Fallout: Dr. Peter Attia Steps Down

• [03:55–04:28]
  • Dr. Peter Attia resigns from CBS News after evidence emerges of extensive correspondence and friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
  • Hundreds of emails exchanged, including one where Attia joked, “female genitals count as low carb.”

• (No direct on-air quote; summary based on reporting by Tom Graham.)

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Notable Moments & Quotes

“Over half a million Americans are going to be without power…”—Brandy Campbell [00:34]
“Killed instantly by Secret Service.”—DAV Spind [01:28]
“Congress needs zero tolerance…”—Rep. Nancy Mace (via Chad Pergrim) [03:09]
“Anything you do beyond that point is on you, basically… That’s unnerving.”—Anonymous American interviewed by DAV Spind [03:43]

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Important Timestamps

• Blizzard impacts/New England: [00:03–00:56]
• Mar-a-Lago breach/FBI probe: [00:56–01:38]
• Stock market drop: [01:38–02:00]
• Gonzalez scandal coverage: [02:32–03:22]
• Cartel violence after El Mencho's death: [03:22–03:55]
• Epstein files/Dr. Attia resignation: [03:55–04:28]

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This episode provides quick, critical insights into several pressing stories, capturing both the facts and concerns echoed by officials, eyewitnesses, and correspondents around the nation.

Transcript

[Tom Graham]

Buried by a blizzard. I'm Tom Graham, FOX News. From Baltimore to Boston, several major cities are digging out and recovering after a monster winter storm walloped the Northeast.

[Brandy Campbell]

We've had several records across the Northeast, one being with Central park. They had 19.7 inches of snow, establishing this blizzard as one of the most powerful winter storms in the city's history. Over in Providence, Rhode island, by 1pm they had over 32 inches of snow, breaking their longest standing record of 28 inches of snow. Meanwhile, the strong wind and heavy wet snow led to power outages going into tonight. Over half a million Americans are going to be without power as crews work to restore it. Meanwhile, the storm is still impacting travel for drivers in Massachusetts. The governor is still advising people to stay off of the roads for now. In Boston, I am Brandy Campbell for Fox Weather.

[Tom Graham]

The FBI investigating after an armed man who was shot and killed yesterday as he tried to enter President Trump's Amar a Lago home. Fox's DAV spun.

[DAV Spind]

Even though the president was not at Mar a Lago, he was in Washington when this gunman breached the security barrier. It still calls into question the perimeter itself and what needs to be done to make sure this does not happen again. Now the suspect, 21 year old Austin Tucker Martin, he breached the scene around 1:30am on Sunday holding a shotgun and gas canister. He was reported missing by family in Moore County, North Carolina. Authorities say once the 21 year old breached the perimeter, Secret Service ordered him to drop both the shotgun and gas can. He put down the gas can but raised the shotgun to a shooting position. He was killed instantly by Secret Service.

[Tom Graham]

The FBI is looking at the suspect's social media profiles, cell phone messages and they're talking to his friends and family. Stocks taking a nosedive today on Wall Street. The dow giving up 822 points. The NASDAQ fell 259 while the S&P 500 sank 72 points. America is listening to FOX News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

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[Tom Graham]

Calls are growing for Texas Republican Congressman Tony Gonzalez to resign. This follows newly released. Actually, it's explicit text messages allegedly between him and an aide. Fox's Chad Pergrim is on Capitol Hill.

[Chad Pergrim]

Fox has obtained texts that the attorney for aide Regina Santos Avila says are authentic. At least four Republicans demand that Gonzalez step down. The late aide set herself on fire last year after allegedly having an affair with her boss. South Carolina Republican Nancy Mace says Congress needs zero tolerance for those who hold power, even if it costs the GOP its narrow majority in the House. If Gonzalez were to quit, the House GOP margin shrinks to 217 to 214. Gonzalez says while in Congress, quote, not a single complaint has been levied against my office.

[Tom Graham]

House Speaker Mike Johnson says he told Gonzalez to address the issue. The congressman denies the allegation. American citizens ordered to shelter in place following violence south of the border. The Mexican military killing El Mencho, the leader of a notorious drug cartel. Gang members retaliated after his death. This American says if he wants to leave, he'll have to sign a waiver.

[DAV Spind]

Anything you do beyond that point is on you, basically. So. But when you're here, someone could come in. So that's unnerving. But you also feel like they're looking out for interest. Yeah.

[Tom Graham]

The nearest airport is closed. Mexican authorities say 73 people died in the Sunday morning operation. That includes 25 Mexican National Guard members. The Epstein files strike again. Dr. Peter Attia is stepping down from CBS News just after being named as a contributor under boss Barry Weiss. Several emails show the anti aging researcher and Jeffrey Epstein had an ongoing friendship. The doctor traded hundreds of emails with the convicted sex offender, including a joke that female genitals count as low carb. I'm Tom Graham and this is FOX News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

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

[DAV Spind]

Jesus, a listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow now at FOX News Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.