Fox News Hourly Update: 1AM ET 01/25/2026 Newscast
Date: January 25, 2026
Host: Daria Albinger (FOX News Podcasts)
Theme: Late night snapshot of the nation’s top breaking stories, featuring law enforcement controversy in Minneapolis, severe weather updates, criminal justice news, national survey results, and an international panda diplomacy development.
Main News Highlights
1. Controversial Border Patrol Shooting in Minneapolis
- Summary: A man, Alex Pretty (37), was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents. Eyewitness video reportedly showed him holding a phone, not a gun. Conflicting statements from Minnesota officials and Homeland Security add heat to the controversy.
- Key Details:
- Governor Tim Walz (Minnesota):
- Denial of Official Report: Dismissed Homeland Security's narrative as "nonsense" and "a lie."
- Notable Quote (00:20):
“Thank God we have video because according to dhs, these seven heroic guys took an onslaught of a battalion against him or something. It's nonsense, people. It is nonsense and it's lie.” — Tim Walz
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem:
- Defense of Agents: Claimed the man approached border officers with a 9mm handgun and allegedly reacted violently.
- Notable Quote (00:37):
“An individual approached U.S. border Patrol officers with a 9 millimeter semi automatic handgun. The officers attempted to disarm this individual but the armed suspect reacted violently. Fearing for his life and for the lives of his fellow officers around him. An agent fired defensive shots.” — Kristi Noem
- Community Response:
- Mayor Jacob Frey offered condolences and emphasized community solidarity (01:07).
- Quote:
“I hope you know that Minneapolis cares deep. There are 435,000 residents that will do everything possible to stand with you.” — Jacob Frey (00:57)
- Governor Tim Walz (Minnesota):
- Timestamp Review:
- Story opens: 00:03
- Statements from officials: 00:20 – 01:07
2. Massive Winter Storm Impacts the U.S.
- Summary: A historic winter storm stretches across two-thirds of the country, causing significant snowfall, ice, power outages, and travel disruptions.
- Key Details:
- NICK Kosir (FOX Weather):
- Weather Impact: Reports of over half a foot of snow and three-quarters inch of ice in northern Louisiana and northward. The system is likely to cause long-term outages and travel problems.
- Quote (01:16):
“Much of the eastern two thirds of the country being impacted by a historic winter storm...significant snow and ice accumulation expected to continue to lead to widespread power outages and major travel disruptions that’ll last for several days.”
- Tornado threats and gusty winds along the Gulf Coast possible Sunday.
- Power Outages:
- Over 140,000 customers without power, numbers expected to rise as the storm pushes northeast.
- States most affected: Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, New Mexico, Arkansas.
- NICK Kosir (FOX Weather):
- Timestamps: 01:07 – 01:49 weather analysis, 03:46 update on power outages.
3. Criminal Justice & Exoneration Case in Texas
- Summary: Tom Lee Walker, a black man executed in 1956 for murder and rape in Dallas, was posthumously exonerated. The case review revealed false evidence and an ignored alibi, concluding the original verdict was a product of racial bias.
- Notable Quote (02:38):
“Prosecutors reviewing the case now say it was tainted by racial bias. Tom Lee Walker was put to death in 1956 for the rape and murder of a 31 year old white woman. But a new prosecutorial review finds his conviction was based on false evidence, and he was condemned despite testimony providing him an ironclad alibi.” — Gary Baumgarten (FOX News)
- Timestamps: 02:32 – 03:07
4. Survey: Nevada Tops List of 'Most Deceitful' States
- Summary: A new study crowns Nevada as America's "most deceitful" state, citing high rates of various scams, fraud, and even web searches related to infidelity. Arizona leads in romance scams.
- Key Insights:
- Criteria: Romance swindles, fraud, identity theft, fake documents, cheating site searches.
- Numbers: Arizona reported nearly $54M lost to romance scams in 2024.
- Notable Quote (03:10):
“Nevada hitting the jackpot after experts counted romance swindles, fraud cases, identity theft, bogus doctor's notes, fake IDs, and … Google searches for the notorious cheating site Ashley Madison.” — Paul Stevens (FOX News)
- Timestamps: 03:07 – 03:46
5. International Relations: Panda Diplomacy Ends in Japan
- Summary: The last two pandas in Tokyo are scheduled to return to China, ending Japan's five-decade tradition of hosting the bears amid strained Tokyo-Beijing relations.
- Notable Moment:
“That will leave Japan without a panda for the first time in nearly 50 years. And with relations between Tokyo and Beijing being as strained as they are right now, replacements don't appear likely.”
- Timestamps: 03:46 – 04:27
Notable Quotes
- Governor Tim Walz:
"Thank God we have video because according to dhs, these seven heroic guys took an onslaught of a battalion against him or something. It's nonsense, people. It is nonsense and it's lie." (00:20) - Secretary Kristi Noem:
"Fearing for his life and for the lives of his fellow officers around him. An agent fired defensive shots." (00:37) - Mayor Jacob Frey:
"There are 435,000 residents that will do everything possible to stand with you." (00:57) - Gary Baumgarten:
"[Walker's] conviction was based on false evidence, and he was condemned despite testimony providing him an ironclad alibi." (02:38) - Paul Stevens:
"Nevada hitting the jackpot after experts counted romance swindles, fraud cases, identity theft, bogus doctor's notes, fake IDs, and … Google searches for the notorious cheating site Ashley Madison." (03:10)
Key Timestamps
| Time | Segment | |--------|----------------------------------------------------| | 00:03 | Minneapolis border patrol shooting coverage | | 00:20 | Governor Tim Walz statement | | 00:37 | Sec. Kristi Noem's official response | | 00:57 | Mayor Jacob Frey message to victim's family | | 01:16 | Winter storm coverage (Nick Kosir, FOX Weather) | | 02:32 | Dallas 1956 exoneration of Tom Lee Walker | | 03:07 | Nevada: America's "most deceitful state" survey | | 03:46 | Update on winter storm power outages; Panda news |
Takeaway
This Fox News Hourly Update encapsulated a turbulent night for America: a controversial police shooting with dueling narratives, a historic winter storm upending daily life, a powerful case of racial injustice posthumously addressed, statistical insights into deception across the states, and a symbolic diplomatic shift with Japan’s loss of its last pandas.
The episode’s concise format blended straightforward news delivery with sharp, occasionally emotionally charged, direct quotes that reflect both the gravity and the complexity of current events.