1AM ET 01/23/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 1AM ET 01/23/2026

Main Theme:
This episode delivers a concise roundup of major U.S. and international news events, highlighting congressional efforts to avoid a government shutdown, political and social unrest involving ICE protests, international developments in Iran, updates on TikTok and Meta, and weather warnings for an approaching winter storm.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Efforts to Prevent a U.S. Government Shutdown

[00:02-00:22]

• The House has passed all 12 appropriations bills, aiming to avert a government shutdown set for January 30.

• Speaker Mike Johnson emphasizes progress, with the Senate expected to consider the bills next week.

• The total of the spending bills is $1.2 trillion.

• Optimism about a presidential signature to finalize these efforts.

  Notable Quote:

  • Mike Johnson (via Steve Harrigan): "Passed all 12 appropriations bills... the president is going to sign them into law. What a concept, gentlemen." [00:18]

2. Minneapolis ICE Protests & Vice President J.D. Vance’s Response

[00:22-00:56]

• Ongoing anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis following the death of Renee Goode after a confrontation with an ICE agent.

• Vice President J.D. Vance addresses the city, noting the complexity and tragedy of the situation, emphasizing concerns over the relationship between communities and law enforcement.

  Notable Quote:

  • J.D. Vance: "The tragedy here is multi layered. The tragedy is there was a misunderstanding. The tragedy is that Renee Goode lost her life. The tragedy is that you have ICE officers who are going into communities where they're worried that if they call 911, no one's going to come to help them." [00:40]

• Vance condemns harassment and doxing of law enforcement as "unacceptable" and calls the scene "chaotic." [00:56]

• Homeland Security reports an arrest after anti-ICE activists disrupted a Minnesota church service.

3. Arrests Following Church Protest in Minnesota

[01:08-01:35]

• At least three protesters who interrupted a St. Paul church service have been arrested and could face federal charges for interfering with religious practice.

  Notable Quotes:

  • Steve Harrigan: "They could face federal charges for interfering with freedom to practice [religion]. At least one made her first appearance in federal court." [01:23]
  • J.D. Vance: "Do we want these arrests to be so chaotic? No, we don't." [01:30]

• V.P. Vance met with agents and law enforcement, highlighting the lack of cooperation as a key issue.

4. Iran Crackdown on Protests

[01:45-02:00]

• The death toll from Iran’s suppression of protests has reached at least 5,000, with activists warning the true number may be higher as the country faces a second week of internet blackout.

5. U.S. and China Reach TikTok Spinoff Deal

[02:31-02:59]

• U.S. and China have agreed to allow TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. through a new joint venture controlled mainly by American investors led by Oracle and Silver Lake.
• The deal aims to address longstanding concerns over Chinese ownership via ByteDance.

6. Trump Criticizes Special Counsel Jack Smith

[02:59-03:31]

• Following hours of testimony to the House Judiciary Committee, former President Trump calls for Jack Smith (special counsel who led investigations into Trump) to be prosecuted.

• Trump labels Smith as "deranged," accuses him of perjury, and claims he destroyed the lives of innocent people.

• Smith defends his investigations, asserting evidence that Trump committed serious crimes post-2020 election loss.

  Notable Quote:

  • Jared Halpern: "President Trump says former special counsel Jack Smith... should be prosecuted... says Smith destroyed the lives of innocent people and at a minimum committed large scale perjury." [02:59]

7. Winter Storm Warnings Across U.S.

[03:31-03:50]

• A major winter storm is set to hit the U.S. starting Friday night, affecting over 200 million people.

• Louisiana will be particularly impacted, experiencing a combination of ice, snow, and arctic cold.

  Notable Quote:

  • Jay Grimes (via Steve Harrigan): "So it's a triple whammy... Ice for the northern parishes, followed by snow, followed by that bitter cold arctic air." [03:40]

8. Meta Layoffs

[03:50-04:28]

• Meta (Facebook’s parent) announces layoffs impacting hundreds in its Reality Labs division amid a strategic shift toward AI.
• The New York Times estimates up to 1,500 jobs cut in Reality Labs, about 10% of its workforce, with layoffs also expected in Washington state.

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Memorable Moments & Speaker Highlights

• Bipartisan Hopes: The rare (if hesitant) bipartisan tone as both chambers move toward passing government funding without drama.
• V.P. Vance’s Emotional Appeal: His remarks frame the ICE protest tragedy as complicated and interact with deep community fears.
• Iran Coverage: Stands out for its brevity and gravity amidst ongoing internet blackouts.

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Important Timestamps

• [00:02-00:22]: Government shutdown avoidance efforts
• [00:40-00:56]: VP J.D. Vance on Minneapolis ICE protests
• [01:08-01:30]: Church protest arrests and Vance’s response
• [01:45-02:00]: Iran protest crackdown update
• [02:31-02:59]: TikTok U.S.-China joint venture
• [02:59-03:31]: Trump’s criticism of Jack Smith
• [03:31-03:50]: Winter storm warnings and details
• [03:50-04:28]: Meta Reality Labs layoffs

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Conclusion:
This update provides vital snapshots of U.S. politics, social agitation, global affairs, tech industry news, and weather, with key voices highlighted—including Speaker Johnson, VP J.D. Vance, and President Trump. The episode maintains a brisk, news-driven tone, blending serious national issues with quick international and business updates.

Transcript

[Ted Lindner]

Trying to avoid another government shutdown. I'm Ted Lindner, FOX News. Government shutdown could kick in at the end of this month. On Thursday, the House passed four spending bills aimed at averting it. Speaker Mike Johnson, the House has now.

[Steve Harrigan]

Passed all 12 appropriations bills and the.

[Ted Lindner]

Senate will soon do the same and.

[Steve Harrigan]

The president is going to sign them into law. What a concept, gentlemen.

[Ted Lindner]

The bills totaling $1.2 trillion. The Senate expected to take up the bills next week ahead of that January 30 deadline. Vice President J.D. vance in Minneapolis addressing anti ICE protests that have been rocking the city, rallying on behalf of Renee Good. She was killed by an ICE agent after a confrontation in her vehicle.

[J.D. Vance]

The tragedy here is multi layered. The tragedy is there was a misunderstanding. The tragedy is that Renee Goode lost her life. The tragedy is that you have ICE officers who are going into communities where they're worried that if they call 911, no one's going to come to help them.

[Ted Lindner]

Bans refer to officers being harassed and doxxed as unacceptable while describing the scene in the Twin Cities as chaotic. Meantime, the Homeland Security Department says it's made an arrest after anti ICE activists shut down a Minnesota church service last weekend.

[Steve Harrigan]

Fox's Steve Harrigan the Justice Department making at least three arrests of protesters who interrupted a church service in St Paul Sunday, shouting at worshippers for about half an hour that they should be out demonstrating against ice.

[Jared Halpern]

Ice.

[Steve Harrigan]

They could face federal charges for interfering with freedom to practice relig. At least one made her first appearance in federal court.

[J.D. Vance]

Do we want these arrests to be so chaotic? No, we don't.

[Steve Harrigan]

Vice President J.D. vance was on the ground here meeting with federal agents and local law enforcement. He says the biggest problem is the lack of cooperation between the two sides.

[Ted Lindner]

And the death toll from Iran's bloody crackdown on nationwide protests reached at least 5,000. Two people killed as of Friday. Activists say warning many more still were feared dead as the Internet blackout and the country is now into its second week. America's listening to fox.

[Megan Alexander / Ainsley Earhart]

Hi, I'm Megan Alexander and this is Middle East Tomorrow. Five years ago, the US Brought leaders from Israel, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain together to sign the Abraham Accords. That historic day ignited a cross border movement of change makers who are joining forces to reshape the region. Join me as I uncover the stories of the people transforming the Middle east today and tomorrow. Go to partners.foxnews.com met.

[Ted Lindner]

A deal on TikTok. The U.S. and China sign off on a spinoff deal that will allow the short form video app to continue to operate in the US by addressing concerns about its Chinese parent company ByteDance. A White House official confirming all this to Fox Business Thursday. The new TikTok US joint venture featuring a mostly American investor group led by Oracle and Silver Lake was revealed last month. President Trump calling for the special counsel who pursued criminal charges against him to be prosecuted. Fox's Jared Halpern with more Reacting to.

[Jared Halpern]

Hours of testimony at the House Judiciary Committee, President Trump says former special counsel Jack Smith, who the president calls deranged, should be prosecuted on Truth Social. The president says Smith destroyed the lives of innocent people and at a minimum committed large scale perjury. At a House hearing, Smith defended his work leading two criminal investigations of President Trump, saying he gathered evidence President Trump committed serious crimes following his reelection loss in 2020. At the White House, Jared Halpern, Fox.

[Ted Lindner]

News A winter storm will spread snow, ice and cold temperatures across the country set to begin Friday night. Louisiana state climatologist Jay Grimes says his state will get hit hard.

[Steve Harrigan]

So it's a triple whammy.

[Ted Lindner]

Ice for the northern parishes followed by.

[Steve Harrigan]

Snow, followed by that bitter cold arctic air.

[Ted Lindner]

More than 200 million people across the US will be impacted and hundreds of meadow employees are being laid off of the company's Reality Labs division. In California's tech job cuts accelerate. Meta is shifting its business model towards AI. Meta is acknowledging the layoffs will be in the hundreds, but the New York Times saying it likely will be around 1500 people representing about 10% of the division's workforce. Other Meta layoffs as well are also expected in Washington state. Meta, of course, the parent company of Facebook, changing its name a few years ago. I'm Ted Lindner and this is Fox News.

[Megan Alexander / Ainsley Earhart]

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

[Ted Lindner]

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.