Summary4 min read

Fox News Hourly Update – 1AM ET 01/03/2026

Host: Chris DiMaio (with reporting from Lucas Tomlinson, Jay Berman, Garrett Tenney)
Date: January 3, 2026

Episode Overview

This newscast delivers the latest headlines across the United States and the world: escalating US-Iran tensions, a foiled New Year’s Eve terror plot in North Carolina, a tragic infanticide case in Ohio, the arrest of baseball star Lenny Dykstra, early fraud concerns in Minnesota's new paid leave program, and controversy surrounding New York City's new mayor and antisemitism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rising US-Iran Tensions and Nationwide Protests

Nationwide unrest: Protests have erupted in 27 Iranian cities with growing anti-government sentiment.
US response: President Trump has openly backed Iranian protesters and issued a stark warning to the regime:
- Quote [00:16]:
  "If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go." – President Trump (quoted by Lucas Tomlinson)
Conflict background: Protests began among merchants in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, expanded to students, truckers, and bus drivers—all in response to:
- Rampant inflation
- The Iranian currency losing 40% value since Israel’s 12-day war, which involved US military support (B2 bombers, Stealth fighter jets, Tomahawk cruise missiles from USS Georgia)
Casualties: At least six protesters reportedly killed this week.

2. Foiled Terror Attack in North Carolina

Incident: An 18-year-old from North Carolina planned a New Year’s Eve knife-and-hammer attack at a grocery store, inspired by ISIS.
Intervention: The suspect was actually communicating with undercover agents.
Legal consequences:
- Quote [01:20]:
  "He said he was going to wear a Kevlar vest and attack people with knives and hammers ... which was New Year's Eve." – Bob Ferguson, US Attorney
- Christian Sturtevant faces up to 20 years in prison.

3. Tragic Infanticide Case in Ohio

Incident: Sharon Sokolos faces murder charges in the death of her 3-year-old daughter, Cassidy, found unresponsive on New Year's Eve.
Evidence and confession:
- Visible signs of bruising.
- Sharon admitted to putting a plastic bag over her daughter's head.
- Bond set at $2 million.

4. Lenny Dykstra Arrested for Drug Possession

Incident: The former MLB star was arrested in Pennsylvania on New Year's Day for possession of narcotics and paraphernalia.
Background: Previous convictions for bankruptcy fraud, 1986 World Series champion.
- Quote [02:55]:
  "The former center fielder for the Phillies in the 90s served time in California for bankruptcy fraud. He did win a World Series championship with the Mets all the way back in 1986. His charges are pending." – Jay Berman

5. Minnesota’s Paid Leave Program Faces Fraud Allegations

Rollout: New paid leave policy grants nearly every resident up to 20 weeks per year at up to $1,420/week.
Fraud warnings: Republican lawmakers flag attempts to scam the newly implemented system just two days in.
- Quote [03:21]:
  "Potentially the next big source of fraud. Minnesota Republican lawmakers are criticizing the state's new paid leave program, warning that two days into the program they are already getting whistleblower reports of people trying to scam it." – Garrett Tenney
Defense: Governor Tim Walz insists the plan has "adequate protections" and will testify before Congress about ongoing investigations into social services fraud in Minnesota.

6. NYC Mayor’s Office Faces Antisemitism Controversy

Issue: National Jewish Advocacy Center accuses new Mayor Ziran Mamdani’s office of deleting prior posts by outgoing Mayor Eric Adams about fighting antisemitism.
Response: Mamdani’s office claims it’s an archiving issue and reaffirms commitment to combating antisemitism.
- Quote [04:18]:
  "He remains committed to getting rid of antisemitism." – Mamdani’s office statement

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

On US-Iran tensions:
"If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go." – President Trump (via Lucas Tomlinson, [00:16])
On the foiled North Carolina terror plot:
"He said he was going to wear a Kevlar vest and attack people with knives and hammers ... which was New Year's Eve." – Bob Ferguson, US Attorney ([01:20])
On Minnesota paid leave fraud:
"Two days into the program they are already getting whistleblower reports of people trying to scam it." – Garrett Tenney ([03:21])
On Lenny Dykstra’s arrest:
"He did win a World Series championship with the Mets all the way back in 1986. His charges are pending." – Jay Berman ([02:55])

Important Segment Timestamps

US-Iran Tensions and Protester Support: 00:03 – 00:57
Foiled Terror Attack (North Carolina): 00:57 – 01:36
Ohio Child Murder Case: 01:36 – 02:00
Lenny Dykstra Arrest: 02:39 – 03:14
Minnesota Paid Leave Fraud Concerns: 03:14 – 04:00
NYC Antisemitism Controversy: 04:00 – 04:36

Tone and Style

The episode is fast-paced, concise, and fact-driven, featuring urgent updates on global incidents, crime, policy, and politics, with direct quotes from officials and clear attributions.

For listeners seeking a rapid, comprehensive briefing on top national and international headlines, this episode efficiently distills the day’s most pressing news.

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Transcript10 lines

[00:03]
Chris DiMaio
US Iran tensions heating up. I'm Chris DiMaio, Fox News. Nationwide protests in Iran have reached 27 different cities and the United States could get involved.
[00:13]
Lucas Tomlinson
Whose protesters have the support from President Trump who fired off this warning to Iran's regime? Quote, if Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter. At least six people have been reportedly killed in the protest this week. It started among shopkeepers and merchants in Tehran's Grand Bazaar. Students have now taken to the streets with truckers and bus drivers protesting runaway inflation, a currency that has lost 40% of its value since Israel launched its 12 day war. Supported by those American B2 bombers, Stealth Fighter jets and Tomahawk cruise missiles for fired from the guided missile submarine USS Georgia out to sea.
[00:58]
Chris DiMaio
That's fox's Lucas Tomlinson in West Palm Beach, Florida. Investigators say they've stopped a New Year's Eve terror attack at a North Carolina grocery store. The FBI says the suspect thought he was talking to ISIS militants, but instead he was speaking to undercover officers. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, Bob Ferguson. He said he was going to wear a Kevlar vest and attack people with knives and hammers. And of course he talked about when he was going to carry out this attack, which was New Year's Eve. 18 year old Christian Sturtevant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted. A mother is charged with murder and the death of her three year old daughter on New Year's Eve. Sharon Sokolos was in court on Friday and was issued a $2 million surety cash bond. Officers found 3 year old Cassidy Sokolos unresponsive and she was taken to a nationwide trial Children's Hospital and pronounced dead. Prosecutors say the victim had visible signs of bruising and the mother admitted to putting a plastic bag over her head. America's listening to FOX News.
[02:00]
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[02:40]
Chris DiMaio
A former major league baseball star is in trouble with the law.
[02:43]
Jay Berman
Lenny Dykstra has been arrested for drug possession during a state police traffic stop on New Year's Day, Scranton, Pennsylvania. During the investigation, police found Dykstra in possession of narcotics and narcotic related equipment and paraphernalia. The former center fielder for the Phillies in the 90s served time in California for a bankruptcy fraud. He did win a World Series championship with the Mets all the way back in 1986. His charges are pending. Jay Berman, FOX News A new policy.
[03:14]
Chris DiMaio
That just went into effect in Minnesota is under scrutiny for fraud, calling it.
[03:19]
Garrett Tenney
Potentially the next big source of frau. Minnesota Republican lawmakers are criticizing the state's new paid leave program, warning that two days into the program they are already getting whistleblower reports of people trying to scam it. Under the new billion dollar program, almost every resident is eligible to take up to 20 weeks of paid leave a year to take care of family or for medical reasons while still getting a percentage of their salary on the taxpayer's dime, up to $1,420 a week. Governor Tim Walls defended his paid leave policy pushed through the legislature by Democrats, arguing that despite all of the alleged fraud around government programs in Minnesota already being investigated, this law has adequate protections in place.
[04:00]
Chris DiMaio
Fox's Garrett Tenney in Chicago, Governor Walls is expected to testify to Congress about the fraud investigations of various social services and daycare centers. A New York City's new mayor already stirring up controversy. The National Jewish Advocacy center is accusing Ziran Mamdani of removing two posts, outgoing Mayor Eric Adams that focused on fighting anti Semitism. Mamdani's office claims the deleted posts are in the process of being archived and that he remains committed to getting rid of antisemitism. I'm Chris DiMaio. This is Fox News.
[04:37]
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