1PM ET 02/17/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 1PM ET 02/17/2026

Host: Chris Foster (FOX News Podcasts)

Date: February 17, 2026

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Episode Overview

This broadcast delivers concise coverage of breaking news and major developments at the start of the afternoon on February 17, 2026. The top story honors the legacy of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, with additional segments covering legal updates, local and federal authorities' responses to breaking incidents, high-profile resignations, global celebrations, and celebrity news.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson (00:04–00:57)

• Announcement & Tribute:
  Rev. Jesse Jackson, iconic civil rights leader, and presidential candidate, dies at 84.
  • Flags at half-staff in honor, especially in his home state of Illinois.
• Coverage from Chicago:
  Father Michael Flager of St. Sabina Church reflects on Jackson’s tireless advocacy:
  • “Anywhere where there were civil rights being neglected or denied, Reverend Jackson was there.” (00:27)
  • “There’s no place you can go [without hearing] the words ‘keep hope alive’ or ‘I am somebody’ and not think [of] Reverend Jackson.” (00:41)
• Statement on Cause of Death:
  Jackson died following a battle with progressive supranuclear palsy, a neurodegenerative disorder.
• Notable Response:
  President Donald Trump shared condolences on Truth Social, calling Jackson “a force of nature.” (00:47)

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2. Legal and Criminal Case Updates (00:57–01:50)

• Kilmar Abrego Garcia Case:
  • A federal judge blocks ICE from detaining Garcia pending human trafficking prosecution.
  • Backstory: Garcia was mistakenly deported to El Salvador and re-entered for trial; judge cites government’s lack of viable deportation plan.
• Nancy Guthrie Disappearance (Pima County, AZ):
  • The sheriff quickly cleared the Guthrie family as suspects.
    • “The Guthrie family, to include all siblings and spouses, has been cleared... The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious and are the victims in this case. To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel.” (01:31)
  • Family’s phones, computers, and cars were reviewed as part of the investigation.

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3. Updates on Iran Nuclear Talks (01:50–01:58)

• Diplomatic Progress:
  • Ongoing talks in Switzerland yield “progress” per a U.S. official, but “a lot of details to discuss” remain.

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4. Environmental Crisis: Potomac River Sewage Spill (02:15–03:04)

• Federal vs. Local Response:
  • President Trump criticizes Maryland’s handling of a major Potomac River sewage spill and suggests federal intervention.
    • “[Governor Wes Moore is] not doing the job they gotta do and I’m going to have to get the federal government involved in getting it fixed because he can’t fix anything.” – President Trump (02:29)
  • Maryland’s response: Governor Moore’s office frames Trump’s remarks as political “talking points,” pointing out the EPA’s own lack of participation in hearings.
  • 200 million gallons of raw sewage overflowed following a pipeline collapse in Montgomery County.

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5. Hyatt Chairman Resigns Amid Epstein Fallout (03:04–03:42)

• Executive Shakeup:
  • Hyatt Hotels Executive Chairman Thomas Pritzker steps down due to disclosed ties with Jeffrey Epstein in newly released Justice Department documents.
  • Pritzker’s Statement:
    • He admits “terrible judgment in maintaining contact with Epstein,” with “no excuse for failing to distance himself sooner.”
    • Intends to focus on his charitable and scientific foundations moving forward.

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6. Quick News Hits & Cultural Notes (03:42–04:10)

• Lunar New Year in Beijing:
  • Celebrating the Year of the Horse (seventh in the Chinese zodiac).
• Fat Tuesday in New Orleans:
  • Brief mention of Mardi Gras festivities.
• Shia LaBeouf Arrested:
  • Actor charged with two counts of simple battery after an incident at a New Orleans bar.
  • Reference to previous legal issues, including last June’s lawsuit settlement for sexual misconduct.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Anywhere where there were civil rights being neglected or denied, Reverend Jackson was there.”
  — Father Michael Flager (00:27)

• “There’s no place you can go [without hearing] the words ‘keep hope alive’ or ‘I am somebody’ and not think Reverend Jackson.”
  — Father Michael Flager (00:41)

• “[Governor Wes Moore is] not doing the job they gotta do and I’m going to have to get the federal government involved...”
  — President Donald Trump (02:29)

• “The Guthrie family... has been nothing but cooperative and gracious and are the victims in this case. To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel.”
  — Pima County Sheriff (01:31)

• “He exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with Epstein, there’s no excuse for failing to distance himself sooner.”
  — Jessica Rosenthal paraphrasing Thomas Pritzker’s statement (03:30)

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Jesse Jackson’s Death & Legacy: 00:04–00:57
• Human Trafficking & Guthrie Cases: 00:57–01:50
• Iran Nuclear Talks Update: 01:50–01:58
• Potomac Pipe Collapse & Political Fallout: 02:15–03:04
• Hyatt Chairman Resigns Over Epstein Ties: 03:04–03:42
• Lunar New Year, Mardi Gras, and Shia LaBeouf News: 03:42–04:10

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This episode blends breaking news with in-depth commentary, reflecting FOX's brisk but detailed news radio tone, and offers listeners a solid cross-section of national and international headlines for February 17, 2026.

Transcript

[Narrator/Anchor]

I am somebody.

[Chris Foster]

I'm Chris Foster, Fox News.

[Narrator/Anchor]

The Rev. Jesse Jackson's signature chant used for decades as a message of hope. He's died 84 years old. Flags are being flown at half staff and his honor in several states, including Illinois. Much of his civil rights work was.

[Jeff Manasso]

In Chicago, St Sabina Church on Chicago's south side. Activist pastor Father Michael Flager reacting to the death of Jesse Jackson, saying America owes him a debt of thanks.

[Father Michael Flager]

Anywhere where there were civil rights being neglected or denied, Reverend Jackson was there.

[Jeff Manasso]

Jackson's family says the civil rights leader and two time presidential candidate died after a long battle with a neurodegenerative disorder called progressive supranuclear palsy.

[Father Michael Flager]

And there's no place you can go. Don't hear the words keep hope alive or I am somebody and not think.

[Jeff Manasso]

Reverend Jackson, President Trump on Truth Social offering condolences to Jackson's family, calling him a force of nature. In Chicago, Jeff Manasso, FOX News.

[Narrator/Anchor]

A federal judge orders that Kilmar Abrego Garcia not be taken into ICE custody pending prosecution on human trafficking charges. And 10 those were filed last June after he was returned to the US from being mistakenly deported to El Salvador. And that judge today says the government has no viable plan for deporting him again. Responding to rumors and speculation, the Pima County, Arizona sheriff says it didn't take long for everyone in Nancy Guthrie's family to be cleared in her disappearance 17 days ago.

[Pima County Sheriff]

The sheriff tells local news station KOLD that the family was ruled out in the first couple of days. The sheriff saying he took the family's phones, computers and cars. The sheriff posted to be clear, the Guthrie family, to include all siblings and spouses, has been cleared as possible suspects in this case. The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious and are the victims in this case. To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel.

[Narrator/Anchor]

Fox's Matt Finn outside Nancy Guthrie's home after Iran nuclear talks in Switzerland. A US Official tells FOX progress was made, but there's still a lot of details to discuss.

[Chris Foster]

America's listening to FOX News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

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

[Podcast Narrator]

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.

[Chris Foster]

President Trump says the feds are stepping.

[Narrator/Anchor]

In to respond to a pipe collapse spewing sewage into the Potomac river, criticizing.

[Jared Halpern]

Local leaders like Maryland Governor Wes Moore. President Trump says He's waiting for a call requesting FEMA respond to a massive sewage spill in the Potomac.

[President Donald Trump]

It's not doing the job they gotta do and I'm going to have to get the federal government involved in getting it fixed because he can't fix anything.

[Jared Halpern]

The president also blames leaders in Virginia, in D.C. for the 200 million gallons of raw sewage after a large pipeline collapsed in Montgomery County, Maryland, last month. Moore's office calls the president's accusation a talking point and says the EPA refused to participate in a cleanup hearing. DC's water chief says the utility, which owns and operates the pipeline, has been coordinating with the epa. At the White House, Jared Halpern, FOX News.

[Narrator/Anchor]

Executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels is stepping down over his connection to Jeffrey Epstein.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

In the latest release of documents from the Justice Department regarding Jeffrey Epstein, Thomas Pritzker's name comes up more than a few times. He's mentioned as a close friend of Epstein's and maintained contact with him well after his conviction on state prostitution charges in Florida in 2008. Now Pritzker, the executive chairman of Hyatt Hotel, says he's stepping down from that role after two decades, writing in a statement that he exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with Epstein, that there' no excuse for failing to distance himself sooner. He says he will now spend time focusing on his philanthropic and science oriented foundation. Jessica Rosenthal, FOX News.

[Narrator/Anchor]

Happy Lunar New Year celebration in Beijing, China. It's the year of the horse, the seventh animal in the 12 year Chinese zodiac cycle. It's also Fat Tuesday, a big day in New Orleans, and actor Shia LaBeouf is under arrest there, accused of assaulting two people after creating a disturbance and being thrown out of a bar, witnesses say. Court records say he's charged with two counts of simple batteries, had a history of erratic behavior and arrest, and last June settled a lawsuit alleging sexual battery, assault and infliction of emotional distress.

[Chris Foster]

I'm Chris Foster, FOX News.