1AM ET 01/04/2026 Newscast

Summary

---

Fox News Hourly Update: 1AM ET 01/04/2026 Newscast

Date: January 4, 2026
Host: Debra Valentine (FOX News Podcasts)

---

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a rapid-fire update on major breaking news: the dramatic U.S. military capture and extradition of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife to New York on narco-terrorism charges. The episode covers emerging political fallout in Washington, international ramifications, and a serious flu outbreak in New York State.

---

Major News Story: Maduro’s Capture and Extradition

The Operation

• Capture Details
  • Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured overnight in Caracas by the U.S. military and brought to Manhattan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
  • They arrived in New York via the USS Iwo Jima.
  • The operation was kept secret from Congress, sparking immediate controversy.
    • (Debra Valentine, 00:02; Madeline Rivera, 00:22)

Quote:

“Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife have arrived at the Manhattan Detention center in Brooklyn, New York. They'll face narco terrorism charges after their daring overnight capture and arrest by US Military in Caracas.”
— Debra Valentine [00:02]

• Indictments and U.S. Intentions
  • The Southern District of New York issued a superseding indictment, accusing Maduro of leading a government centered on corruption and drug trafficking.
  • President Trump is cited as having an interest in Venezuela’s oil and suggests American companies may soon rebuild the nation's oil infrastructure.
  • Plans are underway to establish a transitional government.
    • (Madeline Rivera, 00:22)

Quote:

“President Trump indicates there's an interest in the country's oil too, forecasting a future in which he sees oil companies rebuilding the country's oil infrastructure.”
— Madeline Rivera [00:22]

Political Fallout in the U.S.

• Congressional Oversight Concerns

  • Congress was not notified in advance.
  • The Senate is expected to debate presidential war powers next week.
  • The UN Security Council is scheduling an emergency session on Monday in New York.
    • (Debra Valentine, 01:05)

• Military and DOJ Perspective

  • The early-morning military action was initiated as a DOJ operation, with the intention to press federal narco-terrorism charges.
    • (Jared Halpern, 01:20)

Quote:

“President Trump says Maduro will face federal narco terror charges in New York. He also says the US Will now run Venezuela and rebuild the country's oil infrastructure until a proper transition of power can take place.”
— Jared Halpern [01:42]

---

Domestic Political Reaction

Congressional Criticism

• Lack of Notification
  • Arizona Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego criticizes the administration for acting without Congress’s consent.
    • (Debra Valentine, 02:39)

Quote:

“People do not want us to occupy... we don't want to go to war again for another, you know, oil again.”
— Ruben Gallego [02:51]

White House and GOP Defense

• Explanation of Secrecy

  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio argues the mission faced too many operational variables for pre-notification:
    • “Not the kind of mission that you can do Congressional notification on. It was a trigger-based mission in which conditions had to be met night after night...”
      — Marco Rubio [03:10]

• On Democratic Criticisms

  • Texas Republican Dan Crenshaw rebuts by linking the operation with attempts to address root causes of illegal immigration.
    • (03:39)

Quote:

“You can't say, oh well, we want to take care of the root problems that cause illegal immigration and then be also mad when you take care of the root problems ... like a communist dictator that destroyed his country and made everyone flee.”
— Dan Crenshaw [03:39]

• The Senate will examine legality next week; the UN Security Council meets Monday post-capture.
  • (Debra Valentine, 03:53)

---

Additional News: New York State Flu Crisis

• Record Hospitalizations

  • New York is experiencing unprecedented flu hospitalizations—over 4,500 in the last week of December, with a notable increase of 1,000 over the prior week.
    • (Chris DeMaio, 04:06)

• Health Official Recommendations

  • Public urged to get flu shots and remain proactive.
    • (Debra Valentine, 04:31)

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote or Summary | |-----------|------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:02 | Debra Valentine | “They'll face narco terrorism charges after their daring overnight capture…” | | 00:22 | Madeline Rivera | “The president conveying as being a last ditch operation to get vetted…” | | 01:30 | Analyst | “Maduro was the kingpin of a vast criminal network responsible for trafficking colossal amounts...” | | 01:42 | Jared Halpern | “US Will now run Venezuela and rebuild the country's oil infrastructure…” | | 03:10 | Marco Rubio | “Not the kind of mission you can do Congressional notification on…” | | 03:39 | Dan Crenshaw | “You can't say, oh well, we want to take care of the root problems…” | | 04:06 | Chris DeMaio | “...recorded the highest number of hospitalizations in a week since it started collecting data 20 years ago.” |

---

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Maduro Capture & Legal Charges – 00:02–01:42
• Congressional and UN Response – 01:05–01:57, 03:53
• Domestic Political Debate – 02:39–03:39
• New York Flu Outbreak – 04:06–04:31

---

Summary

This newscast delivers a concise yet detailed look at the U.S. military’s dramatic capture of Nicolas Maduro, the legal and geopolitical challenges arising in its wake, and an urgent public health update. The reporting weaves together swift developments from military action to congressional debates—with the voices of lawmakers, administration officials, and analysts—anchored by Fox News correspondents. The episode concludes with a warning on a severe flu season, keeping its focus on major, fast-moving events shaping the day.

Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

The Maduro's held. I'm Debra Valentine, Fox News. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife have arrived at the Manhattan Detention center in Brooklyn, New York. They'll face narco terrorism charges after their daring overnight capture and arrest by US Military in Caracas. Fox's Madeline Rivera Maduro and his wife.

[Madeline Rivera]

Have landed in New York after being transported on the USS Iwo Jima. The president conveying as being a last ditch operation to get vetted. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro out of power after several attempts have failed. A superseding indictment from the Southern District of New York alleges Maduro sits atop a corrupt, illegitimate government that for decades has leveraged government power to protect and promote illegal activity, including drug trafficking. But the President Trump indicates there's an interest in the country's oil too, forecasting a future in which he sees oil companies rebuilding the country's oil infrastructure. Today there are growing questions about what comes next. The president says they'll be working to designate people to run the country in the coming days.

[Debra Valentine]

Congress wasn't told of the operation ahead of time. The Senate's expected to debate the president's war powers next week. The UN Security Council meets Monday in New York. More on the capture of the Maduro's from Fox's Jared Halpern.

[Jared Halpern]

The US Military launched an assault in the early morning hours in Caracas as part of an operation for the Justice Department to arrest Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

[Unnamed Fox News Analyst]

And his wife, the illegitimate dictator. Maduro was the kingpin of a vast criminal network responsible for trafficking colossal amounts of deadly and illicit drugs into the United States.

[Jared Halpern]

President Trump says Maduro will face federal narco terror charges in New York. He also says the US Will now run Venezuela and rebuild the country's oil infrastructure until a proper transition of power can take place.

[Debra Valentine]

America's listening to Fox News.

[NetSuite Advertiser]

Every business is asking the same question. How do we make AI work for us? No more waiting with NetSuite by Oracle. You can put AI to work today. NetSuite is the 1 AI Cloud ERP trusted by over 43,000 businesses. It's the unified suite that brings your financials, inventory, commerce, HR and CRM into a single source of truth. That connected data is what makes your AI smarter and helping you make fast decisions. Right now. Get the business guide demystifying AI free at netsuite.com fox.

[Debra Valentine]

Arizona Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego tells Fox News Live he thinks the Trump administration acted illegally by not consulting Congress about the military operation to capture the Maduros in Venezuela.

[Ruben Gallego / Dan Crenshaw (two different speakers)]

People do not want us to occupy the American do not want us to occupy Venezuela. We don't want to go to war again for another, you know, oil again. And someone experienced this in Iraq. Nothing good comes out of this.

[Debra Valentine]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Saturday that the administration couldn't notify Congress until immediately after the operation.

[Marco Rubio]

Not the kind of mission that you can do Congressional notification on. It was a trigger based mission in which conditions had to be met night after night. We watched and monitored that for a number of days. So it's just simply not the kind of mission you can call people and say, hey, we may do this at some point in the next 15 days.

[Debra Valentine]

Rubio also says the Trump administration gave the Maduro's several opportunities to leave Venezuela. Texas Republican Representative Dan Crenshaw pushes back against Democrats who are criticizing the president's move on Fox's the View.

[Ruben Gallego / Dan Crenshaw (two different speakers)]

You can't say, oh well, we want to take care of the root problems that cause illegal immigration and then be also mad when you take care of the root problems of illegal immigration like a communist dictator that destroyed his country and made everyone flee.

[Debra Valentine]

The Senate next week will examine the legality of the operation. The UN Security Council meets Monday in New York following Maduro's capture. Cases of the flu leading to record hospitalizations In New York State health Department.

[Chris DeMaio]

Reporting the season continues to break records as it recorded the highest number of hospitalizations in a week since it started collecting data 20 years ago. There are more than 4,500 hospitalizations during the week ending December 27, up by 1,000 from the week before. The state also reported an influenza related death on Friday, the state saying it's still not too late to get a flu shot. Chris DeMaio, Fox News officials are urging.

[Debra Valentine]

Vaccinations and they say be proactive.

[Ainsley Earhardt]

I'm Debra Valentine, this is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of.

[Podcast Narrator]

Jesus, a listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.