1AM ET 02/01/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update — 1AM ET, February 1, 2026

Host: Chris DiMaio
Podcast: FOX News Hourly Update
Date: February 1, 2026

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Episode Overview

This fast-paced newscast delivers concise updates on major national and international events as of the early morning of February 1, 2026. Key topics include a severe winter storm in the Southeast U.S., a mass shooting at a Mardi Gras parade in Louisiana, FBI investigations into paid protestors, deadly Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, U.S.-Iran military posturing, a critical national blood shortage, and the ongoing federal government shutdown.

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Key Segments & Discussion Points

Severe Nor’easter Hits the Southeast

[00:03–00:39]

• Chris DiMaio: Opens with reports of a record-setting nor’easter slamming the Carolinas.
• Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen (Charlotte, NC):
  • Heavy snow is spreading from Greenville, SC into Central North Carolina, with totals rapidly increasing.
  • Winds are picking up, risking blizzard conditions (over 35 mph winds could drop visibility and cause dangerous drifting).
  • Notable Quote:
    “Some of these areas might get blizzard-like conditions even around the Piedmont...and it’s already starting to pile up.” (00:24, Bob Van Dillen)
  • Indicates that this storm is only the first phase, with potential energy transfer offshore.

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Shooting at Louisiana Mardi Gras Parade

[00:39–00:59]

• Chris DiMaio: Reports five shot, including a six-year-old boy, during a Mardi Gras parade in Clinton, Louisiana.
  • Parade was halted immediately.
  • Three suspects are in custody.

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FBI Probes Paid Protesters at Anti-ICE Demonstrations

[00:59–01:38]

• FIRE Representative (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression):
  • FBI is investigating “paid protest campaigns,” focusing on the organization, participants, and funding sources.
  • Multiple groups, such as labor unions and BLM, reportedly involved or encouraging protests.
  • Governmental punishment of funders is only legitimate when there is “intentional direction” of money to illegal acts.
  • Notable Quote:
    “Broad investigations into support for political advocacy set a dangerous precedent that threatens organizations across the political spectrum.” (01:25, FIRE Representative)

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Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza

[01:38–02:00]

• Rich Edson (Washington):
  • Israeli strikes in Gaza City have killed at least 30 Palestinians, including children—one of the highest tolls since October’s ceasefire.
  • Israeli military has not commented.
  • End of segment: “America is listening to Fox.”

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U.S.-Iran Tensions & Possible Military Action

[02:51–03:38]

• Chris DiMaio: Announces President Trump is considering military action against Iran.
• Lucas Tomlinson (White House Correspondent):
  • The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is in the Arabian Sea, within range of Iran.
  • Its arsenal includes F-18 Super Hornets, Navy F-35s, and Growler EW jets.
  • President Trump (to Jackie Heinrich):
    • Quote: “They are negotiating so we'll see what happens. You know, the last time they negotiated we had to take out their nuclear. Didn’t work.” (03:27, President Trump via Lucas Tomlinson)

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Critical U.S. Blood Shortage

[03:38–04:28]

• Chris DiMaio and Dr. Courtney Lawrence (Red Cross):
  • The American Red Cross faces a 35% drop in blood donations in the last month.
  • Reasons: Ongoing severe flu season and storm-related cancellation of 350+ blood drives from Oklahoma to Maine (10,000+ lost units).
  • Acute shortages: Type A negative, B negative, platelets, and especially O positive/negative.
  • Notable Quote:
    “People with blood type O positive or negative are also strongly encouraged to donate as this blood group is most often used in emergencies.” (04:17, Dr. Courtney Lawrence)

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Federal Government Shutdown & Immigration Dispute

[04:28–04:52]

• Chris DiMaio: Despite Senate passage of a funding bill, the government remains shut down over immigration enforcement disputes.
• Congressman Buddy Carter (on FOX Report):
  • Pushes for stricter immigration enforcement.
  • Quote: “The rapists, the murderers, the pedophiles, we need to get them out of this country. And that’s what ICE is trying to do. Yet the Democrats are stopping them from doing it by trying to block ICE.” (04:40–04:45, Buddy Carter)

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Notable Quotes

• Bob Van Dillen (Meteorologist, Charlotte):
  “Some of these areas might get blizzard-like conditions even around the Piedmont...and it’s already starting to pile up.” (00:24)
• FIRE Representative:
  “Broad investigations into support for political advocacy set a dangerous precedent that threatens organizations across the political spectrum.” (01:25)
• President Trump (via Lucas Tomlinson):
  “They are negotiating so we'll see what happens. You know, the last time they negotiated we had to take out their nuclear. Didn’t work.” (03:27)
• Dr. Courtney Lawrence (Red Cross):
  “People with blood type O positive or negative are also strongly encouraged to donate as this blood group is most often used in emergencies.” (04:17)
• Congressman Buddy Carter:
  “The rapists, the murderers, the pedophiles, we need to get them out of this country. And that’s what ICE is trying to do. Yet the Democrats are stopping them from doing it by trying to block ICE.” (04:40–04:45)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment | |---------|------------------------------------------------------| | 00:03 | Nor’easter in Carolinas | | 00:39 | Mardi Gras Parade Shooting in Louisiana | | 00:59 | FBI Probe into Paid Protesters | | 01:38 | Israeli Strikes in Gaza | | 02:51 | U.S.-Iran Military Standoff | | 03:38 | Blood Shortage Crisis | | 04:28 | Government Shutdown over Immigration |

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Summary Takeaways

• Weather Emergencies: The southeastern U.S. is dealing with rare, dangerous snowstorms and possible blizzard conditions.
• Domestic Crises: Mass shooting events and a severe blood shortage exacerbate national anxieties.
• Civil Liberties: Government investigations into the funding of protests spark debate about free speech and civil engagement.
• International Tensions: Continued conflict in Gaza and rising military tensions with Iran keep foreign policy at the forefront.
• Partisan Deadlock: The government shutdown underscores ongoing immigration disputes and heightened partisan rhetoric.

This newscast delivers urgent headlines with direct reporting, marked by the brisk and urgent tone characteristic of all FOX News hourly updates.

Transcript

[Chris DiMaio]

Digging out in the south. I'm Chris DiMaio, Fox News. A nor' easter is hammering the Southeast, bringing record snow to the Carolinas.

[Meteorologist]

A lot of good forcing for heavy snow and that's now edging right out of Greenville into the Piedmont of North Carolina. That's why we're starting to see these snowfall totals pick up. And this is just phase number one. This eventually will transfer its energy offshore. So we're in it now with heavy bouts of snow. Winds have been starting to pick up. Some of these areas might get blizzard like conditions even around the Piedmont. If we see the winds cranking over 35 mph, the visibility is going to start to drop. Drifting snow, that's going to be an issue also, but it's already starting to pile up.

[Chris DiMaio]

FOX Weather's Bob Van Dillen in Charlotte, North Carolina, five people are shot, including a six year old boy at a Mardi Gras parade in Clinton, Louisiana on Saturday. Police say the parade was immediately shut down. Three suspects have been taken into custody. The FBI is trying to determine whether some anti ice protesters were actually paid to start these demonstrations.

[FIRE Representative]

Now, quote, the FBI is investigating paid protest campaigns throughout the country, including organizers, protesters and funding sources that drive illicit activities. There are news reports of labor unions, Black Lives Matter, socialist and communist groups, among others, organizing or encouraging anti ICE protests. The foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a free speech advocacy organization, says only in narrow circumstances can the government punish funders like when they intentionally direct money to specific illegal acts. But, quote, broad investigations into support for political advocacy set a dangerous precedent that threatens organizations across the political spectrum.

[Chris DiMaio]

Fox's Rich Edson in Washington. Israeli strikes kill 30 Palestinians, including children, in one of the highest tolls since the October cease fire aimed at stopping the fighting. The strikes include an apartment building in Gaza City. The Israeli military not commenting on the strikes. America is listening to Fox.

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[Chris DiMaio]

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[Reporter/Commentator]

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike group is on stationed in the Arabian Sea and within striking distance of Iran. In addition to her squadrons of F18 Super Horns, the carrier also has F35 stealth fighter jets. That's the Charlie version that the Navy flies. There are also electronic warfare jets, the Growlers that can jam and destroy Iranian radar and surface to air missile sites. President Trump speaking with our own Jackie Heinrich about Iran saying quote, they are negotiating so we'll see what happens. You know, the last time they negotiated we had to take out their nuclear. Didn't work.

[Chris DiMaio]

That's Fox's Lucas Tomlinson the White House. The Red Cross is seeing a shortage of blood, meaning doctors may have to make tough decisions about who gets it.

[Dr. Courtney Lawrence]

The American Red Cross is facing a 35% drop in the last month. Red Cross Dr. Courtney Lawrence says the supply was already suffering because of this year's intense flu season. But last weekend's winter storm is making it more difficult for hospitals to resupply.

[Chris DiMaio]

We saw more than 350 blood drives that were shut down between Oklahoma and.

[Meteorologist]

Maine and that translates to about 10,000.

[Chris DiMaio]

Units of blood and platelets.

[Dr. Courtney Lawrence]

Lawrence says the Red Cross is in need of all blood types, but there are shortages of type A negative, type B negative in platelets. People with blood type O positive or negative are also strongly encouraged to donate as this blood group is most often used in emergencies.

[Chris DiMaio]

That's fox's Rebecca Castor. The government remains shut down despite Senate passage of the bill that funds most of the government. Democrats and Republicans still need to work out differences over immigration enforcement. Congressman Buddy Carter.

[Reporter/Commentator]

The rapists, the murderers, the pedophiles, we.

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Need to get them out of this country.

[Reporter/Commentator]

And that's what ICE is trying to do. Yet the Democrats are stopping them from doing it by trying to block ICE.

[Chris DiMaio]

Carter appearing on Fox's FOX Report with John Scott. I'm Chris Devine.

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