1AM ET 02/20/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 1AM ET 02/20/2026

Host: Chris DiMaio (FOX News)
Date: February 20, 2026
Duration: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

In this hourly newscast, FOX News provides updates on key political, economic, and cultural stories. The focus centers on President Trump's economic messaging and response to recent comments on aliens, the death of actor Eric Dane, updates on the US trade deficit and stock markets, developments in the UK with Prince Andrew, and a political clash in California over proposed tax policies.

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Key Discussion Points

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President Trump Rallies in Georgia and Addresses Economic Policy

[00:02–00:53]

• Trump’s Economic Focus:

  • Coverage of President Trump’s rally in Northwest Georgia, highlighting economic achievements.
  • Trump visits a restaurant and steel facility in Rome, GA, emphasizing tariffs and tax cuts.

• Tariffs & Supreme Court:

  • Trump voices frustration over the Supreme Court's pending decision on his authority to impose emergency tariffs.
    • Trump Quote [00:26]:

      "Without tariffs, what would you do? You know what? Everybody would be bankrupt. Everybody, the whole country would be bankrupt. And I have to wait for this decision. I've been waiting forever."

  • Indicates concern about economic setbacks without tariff authority.

• Affordability & Tax Cuts:

  • Responds to critics on affordability, insisting he supports it.
    • Trump Quote [00:39]:

      "I want affordability. I had to go out and talk about it."

  • Promotes the "big beautiful bill," touting tax cuts as drivers for increased business investment.

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Presidential Response to Obama’s Alien Comment

[00:53–01:41]

• Obama’s Alien Statement:

  • Former President Obama, in a podcast, mentioned he believes aliens are real but hasn’t seen them.

• Trump’s Directive on UFO Files:

  • Trump instructs Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and others to release files on alien life and unidentified aerial phenomena.
    • Accuses Obama of potentially revealing classified information by talking about aliens.

• Trump’s Own View on Aliens:

  • When pressed, Trump is noncommittal.
    • Trump Quote [01:30]:

      "I don't have an opinion on it. I never talk about it. A lot of people do. A lot of people believe it."

  • Secretary Hegseth humorously responds with an alien and saluting emoji on social media.

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Headlines: Obituary, Economy, and International Scandal

[01:41–02:02; 02:32–02:47]

• Eric Dane Passes Away:

  • Actor known for "Grey’s Anatomy" and "Euphoria" dies at age 53 after battling ALS.

• US Trade Deficit:

  • 2025 trade deficit eases by $4 billion, standing at $901 billion.

• Prince Andrew Arrested:

  • In England, Prince Andrew is arrested and detained over misconduct in public office, linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
    • King Charles issues a statement: "the law must take its course."

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Stock Market Update

[02:47–03:25]

• Market Overview:

  • Markets close down amid US-Iran tensions and AI sector volatility.
  • Tech and Financials suffer, while Industrials and Energy gain.

• Notable Figures:

  • Dow drops 267 points; Nasdaq down 71; S&P 500 down 19.
  • Winners: Caterpillar, Johnson & Johnson, UnitedHealth.
  • Decliners: Goldman Sachs, Sherwin Williams, Boeing.

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California Tax Policy Clash: Newsom vs. Sanders

[03:25–04:21]

• Tax Proposal:

  • Debate over a proposed 5% tax to cover healthcare costs in California—estimated at $100 billion.
  • Labor unions are actively collecting signatures ($10 per signature) for the November ballot.

• Sanders’ Stance:

  • Bernie Sanders frames the tax as an issue of fairness; criticizes billionaires' luxury spending while workers struggle for healthcare.
  • California already imposes a high tax: Top 1% pay nearly half of all state income taxes.

• Economic Implications:

  • If billionaires left due to the tax, California stands to lose around $900 million annually.

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Notable Quotes

• President Trump on Tariffs [00:26]:

  "Without tariffs, what would you do? You know what? Everybody would be bankrupt. Everybody, the whole country would be bankrupt. And I have to wait for this decision. I've been waiting forever."

• President Trump on Affordability [00:39]:

  "I want affordability. I had to go out and talk about it."

• President Trump on Aliens [01:30]:

  "I don't have an opinion on it. I never talk about it. A lot of people do. A lot of people believe it."

• William Lajeuness on California Taxes [03:36]:

  "Supporters say this proposed 5% tax, worth about $100 billion, is needed to offset rising health care costs... Bernie Sanders told the crowd it's about fairness that California's 250 resident billionaires should not be spending their money on luxuries like yachts and real estate. While state workers can't afford health care now..."

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Memorable Moments & Tone

• The exchange about aliens injects a humorous and surreal note into otherwise serious political discourse, especially with Secretary Hegseth's emoji response.
• The tone is brisk and concise, matching the rapid-fire news update style, punctuated by serious coverage of political disputes and cultural losses.

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Segment Timestamps

• Presidential Rally and Economic Remarks: 00:02–00:53
• Aliens/UFO Discussion: 00:53–01:41
• Headlines/Obituary/Trade Deficit: 01:41–02:02
• Prince Andrew Arrested: 02:32–02:47
• Stock Market Update: 02:47–03:25
• Newsom vs. Sanders Tax Debate: 03:25–04:21

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This summary covers news content only; advertisements and sponsor mentions are omitted.

Transcript

[Chris DiMaio]

Presidential pitch. I'm Chris DiMaio, Fox News. President Trump highlighting his administration's economic successes at a rally in Northwest Georgia. Fox's Jessica Rosenthal has more.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

After visiting a restaurant in Rome, Georgia and touring a steel facility, the president then delivered remarks focusing initially on tariffs, expressing frustration that his future ability to impose emergency tariffs rest with the Supreme Court.

[President Trump]

Without tariffs, what would you do? You know what? Everybody would be bankrupt. Everybody, the whole country would be bankrupt. And I have to wait for this decision. I've been waiting forever.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

He had this to say about his critics use of the word affordability.

[President Trump]

I want affordability. I had to go out and talk about it.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

The president highlighted the so called big beautiful bill, insisting tax cuts are boosting the economy now and spurring an increase in business investment. Jessica Rosenthal, FOX News.

[Chris DiMaio]

Meantime, the president makes an out of this world push following claims about aliens made by former President Obama.

[Pete Hegseth]

In a recent podcast appearance, former President Obama was asked if he knew if aliens were real and he said they're real, but I haven't seen them. Now President Trump says based on the tremendous interest shown, he's directing Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and other relevant agencies to release files related to alien life as well as unidentified aerial phenomena and and unidentified flying objects. The president accused Obama of revealing classified information by suggesting aliens were real. But when asked aboard Air Force One if he's a believer, no, I don't,

[President Trump]

I don't have an opinion on it. I never talk about it. A lot of people do. A lot of people believe it.

[Pete Hegseth]

A response Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posted an alien and saluting emoji in Washington.

[Chris DiMaio]

Shawn angel, Fox News, Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria star Eric Dane has died. The 53 year old actor had been suffering from ALS. The US trade deficit slipped modestly in 2025 by about $4 billion to $901 billion. America's listening to FOX News.

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[Chris DiMaio]

Former Prince Andrew arrested and held for hours in England on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to his links to Jeffrey Epstein. King Charles issuing a statement saying the law must take its course. Stocks ending down on Thursday as oil prices climbed.

[Hillary Barski]

The major average is losing ground and ending lower amid heightened tensions between the US And Iran. And as investors digest another crop of earnings reports and continue to worry about AI valuations, tech and financials were the worst performers, while industrials and energy gained the magnificent big cap tech stocks were mostly lower and choppy trading while chip stocks came under pressure. The Dow winners Caterpillar, Johnson and Johnson and UnitedHealth. The Dow decliners Goldman Sachs, Sherwin Williams and Boeing. The dow Dow down 267 points. The Nasdaq lower by 71s and P500 down 19. Hillary Barski, Fox News.

[Chris DiMaio]

California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and Vernon Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders are clashing over their tax policies following a trip to a trip the independent senator makes to the Golden State.

[William Lajeuness]

Supporters say this proposed 5% tax, worth about $100 billion, is needed to offset rising health care costs. The reality in Los Angeles, the labor unions behind this effort need 900,000 signatures by April 1st to qualify for the November ballot. They're paying about 10 million or $10 per signature to meet the deadline. Now, Bernie Sanders told the crowd it's about fairness that California's 250resident billionaires should not be spending their money on luxuries like yachts and real estate. While state workers can't afford health care now, California already has the nation's Top tax rate, 14.3%. Top 1% pay nearly half the state income taxes. And if all the billionaires left, California would lose about 900 million annually.

[Chris DiMaio]

That's Fox's William Lajeuness reporting from Los Angeles. I'm Chris De Meo. This is FOX news.

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