3AM ET 01/01/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: 3AM ET 01/01/2026 Newscast

Main Theme:
A fast-paced rundown of major news events at the dawn of 2026, including nationwide New Year’s celebrations (with a historic twist), political developments in New York, new U.S. sanctions targeting Venezuela, an extraordinary bank heist in Germany, and simmering diplomatic tensions with West Africa.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. New Year’s Eve Celebrations & America’s 250th Birthday

• Times Square Ball Drop:
  • Thousands gathered in Times Square, New York, for the annual ball drop.
  • This year, the event was extra special, marking the start of the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
• Historic Double Drop:
  • Notable moment: For the first time, the Times Square ball will both rise now and drop again on July 4th, 2026, symbolizing the nation’s anniversary (00:18).
  • The ball was lit blue, with "2026" in red, white, and blue letters.
• Memorable Quote:
  • “It doesn’t get better than listening to some Frank Sinatra here... people from all over the world have come here to celebrate the new year. The first time ever that the ball is going to drop two times.”
    — Nate Foy, reporting from Times Square (00:18)
• Other Festivities:
  • In Washington, D.C., a New Year’s celebration included fireworks and a "birthday candle" projection onto the Washington Monument (00:50).

2. Political Turnover in New York City

• Swearing-In of Zoramdani:
  • Democratic Socialist Zoran Kwame Mamdani, having won a key city role, was officially sworn in just after midnight by NY Attorney General Letitia James (00:50).
• Oath Excerpt:
  • “Do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States ... the Constitution of the state of New York ... and the charter of the city of New York.”
    — Letitia James and Zoran Kwame Mamdani, reciting the oath (01:25)
• Presidential Action:
  • President Trump announced an end to efforts to keep National Guard troops stationed in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland for now—warning they could return if crime levels surge (01:44).

3. Foreign Affairs & National Security

• Venezuela Sanctions:
  • The U.S. issued new sanctions against four companies tied to Venezuela’s oil sector, accusing the government of profiting from narcotics trafficking (02:40).
• US Southern Command Strikes:
  • Three more military strikes targeted alleged drug smuggling vessels, resulting in the death of three suspected “narco-terrorists” (02:40).
  • Notable Language: “The vessels were transiting along no narco trafficking routes and acted as a convoy transferring narcotics... three narco terrorists aboard the first vessel were killed.” (02:40)

4. Brazen Bank Heist in Germany

• Incident Overview:
  • Thieves drilled into a bank in Germany and ransacked more than 3,000 safe deposit boxes, affecting 2,700 customers.
  • Losses estimated between $11 million and $105 million; bank guarantees offered up to $12,000 per box, with suggestions that customers may have insured for more privately.
• Memorable Quote:
  • “At least 2,700 customers were impacted ... after more than 3,000 safety deposit boxes were broken into, making up more than 95% of the bank's inventory.”
    — Stephanie Bennett (03:28)
  • A fire alarm initially alerted police, but instead of a blaze, they discovered a massive hole and a gutted vault.
• No arrests have been made (04:10).

5. International Diplomatic Tensions

• West Africa Retaliates:
  • Mali and Burkina Faso simultaneously banned American citizens, a direct response to the U.S. expanding travel restrictions on over 20 nations, including themselves and Niger (04:10).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The first time ever that the ball is going to drop two times.”
  — Nate Foy (00:18)
• “Zoran Kwame Mamdani, do solemnly swear...”
  — Letitia James and Mamdani (01:25)
• “Three narco terrorists aboard the first vessel were killed.”
  — FOX News anchor (02:40)
• “...more than 3,000 safety deposit boxes were broken into, making up more than 95% of the bank’s inventory.”
  — Stephanie Bennett (03:28)

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Key Timestamps

• 00:03 – Times Square New Year’s celebration coverage begins
• 00:18 – Historic double ball drop detailed; national celebrations
• 01:25 – Zoran Kwame Mamdani’s swearing-in ceremony
• 01:44 – President Trump on National Guard withdrawal
• 02:40 – New U.S. sanctions on Venezuela; military strikes
• 03:28 – German bank heist report
• 04:10 – West African nations ban American citizens; summary close

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Tone: Direct, rapid-fire, with special attention paid to major headlines and national pride during anniversary celebrations.

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This summary is meant to fully inform listeners about the significant news and events covered in the 3AM Fox News Hourly Update on January 1, 2026.

Transcript

[A]

Bringing in the new year. I'm Sue Guzman, FOX News. Thousands of people gathering in New York City's Times Square for the annual ball drop to ring in 2026. Fox's Nate Foy was there and tells us that it is not just a new year that's being celebrated.

[B]

It doesn't get better than listening to some Frank Sinatra here. The famous song New York, New York, as people from all over the world have come here to celebrate the new year. The first time ever that the ball is going to Dr. Two times. It's lit up in blue, 2026 in red, white and blue, right in the foreground of the ball. The ball is going to drop on July 4th, but we're going to see it raise here and then we're going to get that red, white and blue confetti. To celebrate the 250th birthday of our country.

[A]

2026 marks 250 years of America's at ring in the big anniversary. Washington, D.C. hosted its own New Year's Eve celebration, complete with fireworks over the nation's capital. Birthday candle was projected onto the Washington Monument to mark the country's 250th anniversary. As the new year rang out in Times Square, another big change was taking place in New York City. Democratic Socialist Zoramdani was sworn in just after midnight by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

[C]

Zoran Kwame Mandani Zoran Kwame Mamdani, do solemnly swear. Do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States. That I will support the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the state of New York. Constitution of the state of New York. And the charter of the city of New York and the charter of the.

[A]

City of New York. This afternoon to celebrate his swearing in, President Trump dropping his efforts to keep National Guard troops in Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon. He says they'll return though, if crime soars again. America is listening to FOX News.

[D]

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[A]

The US has issued fresh sanctions targeting four companies operating in Venezuela's oil sector. That is. According to the treasury website, the Trump administration has ramped up pressure on the South American nation, accusing it of profiting from drug trafficking. US Southern Command announcing they have conducted three more strikes and alleged drug smuggling. Votes issuing a statement saying the vessels were transiting along no narco trafficking routes and acted as a convoy transferring narcotics between the vessels prior to the strikes. It goes on to say three narco terrorists aboard the first vessel were killed. Customers at a German bank continuing to voice their outrage after a massive bank heist in which millions of dollars in valuables were taken from safe deposit boxes. Thieves drilling a hole to get in. As we hear from Fox's Stephanie Bennett.

[E]

Police and bank officials say at least 2,700 customers were impacted by this. Well, 200 angry customers gathered outside of the bank to demand answers from officials after more than 3,000 safety deposit boxes were broken into, making up more than 95% of the bank's inventory. Police say it's worth between 11 to 105 million dollars. German police say a fire alarm first alerted them to the bank shortly before 4am Monday. They didn't find a fire, but a massive hole in the wall and the vault was ransacked. Bank officials say each of those boxes is insured for around $12,000. They say customers could have gotten extra insurance privately themselves.

[A]

No arrests have yet been made, and two West African nations have issued simultaneous bans on American citizens. It's a diplomatic tit for tat move following heightened tensions with both the US And Europe. Mali and Burkina Faso making the move in response to the Trump administration's recent expansion of travel restrictions to more than 20 countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. I'm Sue Guzman. This is Fox.

[D]

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