1AM ET 01/02/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 1AM ET 01/02/2026 Newscast

Date: January 2, 2026
Host: Ted Lindner
Podcast: Fox News Podcasts

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Episode Overview

This newscast covers major headlines from the early hours of January 2, 2026, with updates on New York City's newly inaugurated mayor, a tragic nightclub fire in Switzerland, escalating U.S.-China tensions over Taiwan, a daycare robbery linked with federal funding issues in Minnesota, and a round-up of new state laws taking effect at the start of 2026. Additional national updates include President Trump's announcement regarding the National Guard presence in several U.S. cities.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. New York City’s New Mayor: Zora Mamdani

• [00:02] Ted Lindner introduces Zora Mamdani as NYC’s newly elected mayor, marking history as the city's first self-proclaimed democratic socialist in this role.
• [00:14] CB Cotton reports: Mamdani began his term with a series of executive orders focused on tenant protection and housing development, vowing not to back down from his plans to “transform city hall with a new way of doing things.”
• [00:38] Memorable Quote by Mamdani:

  "I was elected as a democratic socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist."
  — Zora Mamdani (quoted by Ted Lindner) [00:38]

• [00:43] CB Cotton notes: Senator Bernie Sanders publicly swore in Mamdani, highlighting the progressive shift in local leadership.
• [00:50] Throughout the campaign, President Trump called Mamdani a "communist" and threatened to pull federal funding from NYC, even meeting Mamdani post-election at the White House.

2. Deadly Fire in Swiss Nightclub

• [01:06] Ainsley Earhart covers the disaster at Le Consolation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland:
  • 13 helicopters and 42 ambulances responded; first responders arrived within two minutes.
  • The fire started after 1:30am; its cause is disputed—speculation ranges from firecracker mishaps to champagne sparklers igniting the ceiling.
  • Chaotic escape described, with people fleeing up narrow stairs and smashing windows to survive.
  • Officials believe the fire triggered combustible gases, causing a "flashover" or "backdraft," resulting in an explosion.

3. U.S. Calls on China to Cease Military Drills Near Taiwan

• [01:46] Ted Lindner reports: The State Department urges China to stop military activities around Taiwan, stating that "China's military activities and rhetoric towards Taiwan are increasing tensions unnecessarily."
• Reasserts ongoing concern over regional security.

4. Minnesota Daycare Robbery Amid Federal Funding Scrutiny

• [02:39] Garrett Tenney on daycare fraud investigation:
  • The Nokomis Daycare in Minneapolis, recently flagged for repeated violations despite receiving over $1 million in federal funds, claims to have been robbed.
  • Surveillance footage shows two men breaking in via cinder block and interior walls, stealing business records with sensitive information.
  • Police investigation underway; some suggest the burglary could be a cover-up related to the ongoing fraud investigation.
• [03:21] Ted Lindner: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has frozen funding for various Minnesota programs due to the probe.

5. New State Laws for 2026

• [03:34] Rapid-fire round-up:
  • California: New law forbids immigration agents from wearing masks; Trump administration files lawsuit for non-compliance.
  • Illinois: Law prevents schools from sharing students' immigration status.
  • Texas: Sheriffs now required to collaborate with ICE.
  • Georgia: New license plate with "America First" and the U.S. flag now available.
  • Utah: Drivers convicted of "extreme DUIs" receive new state IDs prohibiting alcohol sales.
• [04:16] Attributed to Matt Finn reporting from LA.

6. President Trump Removes National Guard from Key Cities

• [04:16] Ted Lindner reports: President Trump states in a social media post that National Guard units will leave Chicago, Louisiana, and Portland but promises federal forces will return if crime rises.

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Highlighted Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Zora Mamdani (via Ted Lindner):

  "I was elected as a democratic socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist." [00:38]

• CB Cotton on Mamdani’s inauguration:

  "The 34 year old was publicly sworn in by his political hero and fellow progressive Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders." [00:43]

• Ainsley Earhart on the Swiss fire:

  "Panicked partygoers ran for their lives out of the basement, up the narrow stairs and out the door, while others broke windows just to try to escape." [01:31]

• State Department statement (as reported by Ted Lindner):

  "China's military activities and rhetoric towards Taiwan are increasing tensions unnecessarily." [01:46]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• NYC New Mayor, Zora Mamdani: [00:02]–[00:50]
• Swiss Bar Fire Tragedy: [01:06]–[01:46]
• U.S.–China Taiwan Tensions: [01:46]–[02:00]
• Minnesota Daycare Robbery & Fraud Probe: [02:39]–[03:21]
• State Law Updates for 2026: [03:34]–[04:16]
• National Guard Withdrawal Announcement: [04:16]–[04:36]

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This episode briskly covers significant domestic and international news, offering concise yet vivid reports on major stories and legislative updates as 2026 begins.

Transcript

[Ted Lindner]

New York City gets a new mayor. I'm Ted Lindner, Fox News. New York City's first self proclaimed democrat socialist mayor was sworn in on New Year's Day, January 1st. Fox's CB Cotton with the details.

[CB Cotton]

Mayor Zora Mamdani left the public inauguration and immediately got to work holding a news conference about a handful of executive orders, including ones meant to protect tenants and increase housing development. This after his first major speech as the leader of the Big Apple where he he said he's going to transform city hall with a new way of doing things that he won't back down from.

[Ted Lindner]

I was elected as a democratic socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist.

[CB Cotton]

The 34 year old was publicly sworn in by his political hero and fellow progressive Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

[Ted Lindner]

During Mamdani's campaign, President Trump called him a communist and threatened to pull funding from New York City if he got in. The two met at the White House in November, a few weeks after Mamdani won the election. A fire in his Swiss bar leaves dozens presumed dead and more than one others injured at a New Year's party.

[Ainsley Earhart]

Thirteen helicopters and 42ambulances rushed to the scene. In fact, first responders were on scene two minutes after the first call. Police say a fire broke out at Le Consolation bar in Crohn's, Montana. It happened just after 1:30am the cause of the fire is not officially known, but two theories have emerged. Some say it was a firecracker, while two witnesses claim champagne bottles with sparklers caught the ceiling on fire. Panicked partygoers ran for their lives out of the basement, up the narrow stairs and out the door, while others broke windows just to try to escape. Officials say the fire likely triggered the release of combustible gases, causing a flashover or a backdraft, basically an explosion.

[Ted Lindner]

In the State Department calling on China to end military drills near Taiwan. A department spokesman saying China's military activities and rhetoric towards Taiwan are increasing tensions unnecessarily. America's listening to Fox News.

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[Ted Lindner]

A daycare in Minnesota claiming to have been robbed recently. As Fox's Garrett Tenney reports, this particular.

[Garrett Tenney]

Daycare center was not featured in Nick Shirley's viral video, but it is one of the dozens flagged to state investigators earlier this year for receiving more than $1 million in federal funding despite having multiple and repeated violations on record. The owners of Nokomis daycare surveillance cameras captured two men breaking into their business, claiming they cut through an outside cinder block wall, crawled through an interior wall and busted their way in before getting into an office and stealing business records, including personal information of who attends the daycare. While the Minneapolis police are investigating this reported break in, some are suggesting it could be a cover up of wrongdoing.

[Ted Lindner]

The Department of Health and Human Services has frozen funding for various programs in Minnesota due to the ongoing fraud probe. New laws taking effect in different states as 2026 begins in California, the state.

[Unidentified News Reporter or Announcer]

Law forbidding immigration agents from wearing masks goes into effect. However, the Trump administration has already filed a lawsuit to block the law and says the feds will not comply. In Illinois, similar law is set to take effect that prevent schools from sharing the immigration status of students. Meanwhile, a new Texas law requires that sheriffs collaborate with ice. In Georgia, legislators previously passed a new state license plate that becomes available this year. It says America first on it with a USA flag. And in Utah, drivers convicted of extreme DUIS will be restricted from buying alcohol. Those drivers will get a new state ID that says no alcohol sale above their picture.

[Ted Lindner]

And that's Fox's Matt Finn reporting from la. And President Trump says his administration's removing the National Guard from Chicago, Louisiana and Portland. But he added in a social media post that federal forces will come back if the crime rates go up. Once again, I'm Ted Lindner. This is Fox News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

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

[Unidentified News Reporter or Announcer]

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