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.

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.

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.

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

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.