1PM ET 01/21/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update

Host: Lisa Brady (FOX News Podcasts)
Date: January 21, 2026
Episode: 1PM ET Newscast

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Main Theme

This update delivers a fast-paced roundup of major national and international news, focusing on President Biden's activities at the World Economic Forum, a high-stakes Supreme Court case involving a Federal Reserve official, a major winter storm impacting millions across the U.S., a Capitol Hill hearing on fraud in Minnesota, escalation of anti-ICE protests, as well as developments regarding ISIS detainees in Syria and Iraq, and closing with a financial market update.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Biden at the World Economic Forum

• President Biden speaks in Switzerland, promoting his administration's achievements one year into his second term.
  • Quote: “The United States is doing really well, doing like nobody thought was actually possible, certainly not this soon. It's one year.” (President Biden, 00:09)
• He reassures NATO allies that the U.S. will not use force to acquire Greenland, though reiterates interest in U.S. ownership for security reasons.

2. Supreme Court Hears Federal Reserve Case

• The Supreme Court debates President Biden's attempt to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook over alleged mortgage fraud:
  • Justice Amy Coney Barrett questions U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer about the appropriateness of removal and its public impact (00:34).
  • Quote: “The governor set interest rates for ordinary Americans all across the country. And here there's the appearance of having played fast and loose or at least been grossly negligent in getting favorable interest rates for herself.” (U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer, 00:44)
  • Justice Sonia Sotomayor suggests Cook’s actions occurred before her Fed appointment and indicates removal would be unprecedented, possibly favoring remand to lower courts for more review.
• Cook’s defense frames the case as an example of undue political pressure on Federal Reserve decisions.

3. Major Winter Storm Threatens Millions

• Fox Weather meteorologist Brittany Merwin highlights bitter cold and dangerous conditions ahead:
  • Quote: “We have temperatures across northern parts of Minnesota with wind chills dropping down to minus 40 to minus 45. ...We're going to start to see some large impacts starting on Friday for the Southern Plains ...potential for not only ice but also a lot of snow.” (Brittany Merwin, 01:29)
  • 175 million Americans under winter weather alerts, with the Southern Plains, Gulf Coast, Southeast, and Northeast in the storm's path.

4. Fraud Investigation Hearing in Minnesota

• Independent journalist Nick Shirley testifies at a House hearing on alleged fraud in Minnesota’s daycare and government-funded centers, particularly those operated by Somali-run businesses:
  • Quote: “Since my reporting, the HHS department froze over $185 million and to this day, not a single business has been able to prove proof of legitimacy.” (Nick Shirley, 02:35)
  • Discussions underscore bipartisan support for enhanced investigations and enforcement nationwide.
• Tensions rise as the state’s governor supports investigations but accuses the Trump administration of targeting Minnesota, amid rising anti-ICE protests and investigations into a possible conspiracy to obstruct law enforcement.

5. ISIS Detainees Relocated

• Gurnall Scott reports up to 7,000 ISIS detainees being transferred from Syrian camps to Iraqi-controlled facilities after local Syrian forces seized a key camp:
  • Quote: “While the camp still has thousands of people linked to the Islamic State living there, many have asked to be repatriated to their native lands. At one point, more than 73,000 people populated the camp.” (Gurnall Scott, 03:27)
  • The U.S. move aims for more secure detainment as unrest and changing control affect the region.

6. Financial Markets Update

• The Dow is up by 160 points, while the NASDAQ dips into negative territory as the update concludes.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Biden (00:09): “The United States is doing really well, doing like nobody thought was actually possible, certainly not this soon. It's one year.”
• US Solicitor General John Sauer (00:44): “...there's the appearance of having played fast and loose or at least been grossly negligent in getting favorable interest rates for herself.”
• Brittany Merwin (01:29): “Wind chills dropping down to minus 40 to minus 45…large impacts starting on Friday…potential for not only ice but also a lot of snow.”
• Nick Shirley (02:35): “...HHS department froze over $185 million and to this day, not a single business has been able to prove proof of legitimacy.”
• Gurnall Scott (03:27): “...the camp still has thousands of people linked to the Islamic State living there, many have asked to be repatriated to their native lands...”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:09 — President Biden's remarks at the World Economic Forum
• 00:34 - 01:16 — Supreme Court hearing on Fed Governor removal, key justices’ perspectives
• 01:29 — Weather update: Major winter storm alerts and impacts
• 02:19 - 02:48 — House fraud hearing in Minnesota; testimony from Nick Shirley
• 03:00 — Escalating anti-ICE protests, subpoenaed officials, Justice Department probe
• 03:27 — ISIS detainee transfer from Syria to Iraq
• 04:00 — Market updates and closing headline

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Tone & Style

The episode maintains a factual, concise, and urgent tone, characteristic of breaking news radio updates. Speakers deliver rapid information, with direct quotes from officials and correspondents, aiming to keep listeners up to the minute on developing stories without editorial commentary.

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Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

A full day for the president. Lisa Brady, FOX News, speaking again moments ago at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

[President of the United States]

The United States is doing really well, doing like nobody thought was actually possible, certainly not this soon. It's one year.

[Lisa Brady]

Touting his second term so far after earlier reassuring NATO allies he will not use force to get Greenland, but he still wants the US to own it for the national and international security. The US Supreme Court hears arguments over the president's effort to remove a Fed official over allegations of mortgage fraud.

[Justice Amy Coney Barrett]

Some of the justices expressed a concern about the impact the public if a Federal Reserve governor is removed. Justice Amy Coney Barrett questioned US Solicitor General John Sauer about that.

[US Solicitor General John Sauer]

The governor set interest rates for ordinary Americans all across the country. And here there's the appearance of having played fast and loose or at least been grossly negligent in getting favorable interest rates for herself.

[Lisa Brady]

So it's appropriate.

[US Solicitor General John Sauer]

Ordinary Americans, that comes out of that.

[Justice Amy Coney Barrett]

Lisa Cook is accused of claiming one of her properties would be her main residence when it was not. Justice Sonia Sotomayor said Cook signed that paperwork before she was on the Federal Reserve Board and said removing her would be unprecedented. She said she was inclined to send the case to the lower courts for further consideration.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jessica Rosenthal Cook says the case is about political pressure on the Fed's interest rate decisions. A lot of the US Is on notice to get ready for snow or ice from a storm expected to cross.

[Brittany Merwin]

Right now we have temperatures across northern parts of Minnesota with wind chills dropping down to minus 40 to minus 45. So as this all pulls together, we're going to start to see some large impacts starting on Friday for the Southern Plains. That's where we have the potential for not only ice but also a lot of snow.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox Weather meteorologist Brittany Merwin the storm could coat parts of the Gulf coast and Southeast with ice and dump heavy snow on the Northeast by Sunday. About 175 million people already under winter weather alerts. America is listening to FOX News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

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

[Nick Shirley]

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.

[Lisa Brady]

A Capitol Hill hearing on fraud schemes in Minnesota.

[Nick Shirley]

Witnesses testifying in the House fraud hearing include independent journalist Nick Shirley whose reporting blew the lid on alleged stolen taxpayer dollars related to Minnesota daycare and other government funded centers, much them owned and operated by Somalis since my reporting, the.

[Unnamed HHS Department Official]

HHS department froze over $185 million and to this day, not a single business has been able to prove proof of legitimacy. How fast would you be proving that you are a legitimate business if you have children to actually feed and to.

[Nick Shirley]

Take care of the hearing. Bipartisan in nature, highlighting the need for enhanced investigation, enforcement and prosecution to ensure offenders not just in Minnesota but in states across the country are held accountable.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jeff Manasso the Minnesota governor has offered support fraud investigations, but also accuses the Trump administration of targeting the state where anti ICE protests have escalated after two shooting incidents, including a deadly confrontation. The governor, the Minneapolis mayor, they're among the officials subpoenaed. Meantime, in a Justice Department probe of a possible conspiracy to obstruct law enforcement operations, the US Is moving ISIS detainees from Syria to Iraq for more security.

[Gurnall Scott]

Word comes from US Central Command that up to 7,000 ISIS detainees could be moved to the Iraqi controlled facilities. The location change came after Syrian forces seized control of the camp where detainees were being kept not long after U S Backed Syrian forces withdrew as a condition of a ceasefire with Kurdish fighters. While the camp still has thousands of people linked to the Islamic State living there, many have asked to be repatriated to their native lands. At one point, more than 73,000 people populated the camp.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Gurnall Scott Syrian forces still control a dozen other camps with more than 9,000 ISIS detainees. Stocks turning mixed. The Dow's up 160, the NASDAQ now in the red and Lisa Brady, FOX News.