Fox News Hourly Update – 3AM ET 01/05/2026 Newscast

Host: Fox News Podcasts | Date: January 5, 2026

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This episode provides a concise update on breaking U.S. and international news, focusing on the legal proceedings against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, fallout from U.S. military action in Venezuela, domestic flooding in California, and allied strikes on ISIS targets in Syria.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Nicolas Maduro's U.S. Court Arraignment

[00:03–01:05]

• Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is set to be arraigned in New York City on Monday, facing charges including drug trafficking.
• The DOJ’s superseding indictment alleges that Maduro turned Venezuela into a drug pipeline, trafficking “thousands of tons of cocaine.”
• Political responses have fallen along party lines:
  • NYC Mayor Zorram Doni (Democratic Socialist) called President Trump to criticize Venezuelan strikes.
  • NY State Attorney General Letitia James posted on X:

    “…Maduro was a brutal dictator who caused pain and suffering while adding that she also believes in the Constitution. And as such, ‘I am deeply concerned with the administration's continued abuse of the rule of law.’”
    (00:30, Letitia James)

• The case is federal; opposition is unlikely to affect court proceedings.

Notable Quote

• “I am deeply concerned with the administration's continued abuse of the rule of law.”
  — Letitia James, NY State Attorney General, [00:30]

2. Airspace Closures and Airline Disruptions

[01:05–01:45]

• In Florida, Venezuelan Americans are celebrating Maduro’s arraignment, but Caribbean airspace faces difficulties.
• U.S. military actions led to widespread flight cancellations by American, Delta, United, Frontier, Spirit, and JetBlue.
• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Caribbean airspace is reopening, but full normalization will take days due to significant backlogs.
• FlightAware reported hundreds of delays and even more cancellations.

Notable Moment

• “Hundreds of flights had to be canceled by major carriers because of Saturday's US Military action in Venezuela.”
  — [01:15, Paul Stevens]

3. Northern California Flood Concerns

[02:40–03:33]

• Marin County, CA, is battling floodwaters, with local businesses like Morning SF Fitness surrounded by tarps and sandbags.
• A sandbag wall failed, leading to manageable water damage in the gym’s lobby.
• Employee and community volunteer efforts highlighted:
  • "We had the sandbag wall break yesterday and that got water into the lobby so we'd have to refortify that, get some more sandbags… We got a lot of help. A lot of great people.”
    (02:56, Gym Representative)
• King tides broke records dating back to 1998, with some locations seeing their highest tides ever.
• Rain is expected to continue into Monday.

4. British and French Airstrikes on ISIS

[03:33–04:19]

• UK and French militaries struck ISIS positions in Syria, targeting an underground facility for weapons and explosives near Palmyra.
• The operation was meticulously planned to avoid civilian casualties; all aircraft returned safely.
• France stresses commitment to preventing ISIS resurgence; both countries are part of the U.S.-led coalition.

Memorable Recap

• “Allied strikes come after American action in Syria last month as the international effort against ISIS continues.”
  — [04:19, Stephanie Bennett]

5. Swiss Memorial March for Bar Fire Victims

[04:19–04:34]

• Hundreds in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, marched in silence to honor 40 people killed in a New Year's Eve bar fire.

Memorable Quotes

• “I am deeply concerned with the administration's continued abuse of the rule of law.”
  — Letitia James, [00:30]
• “We had the sandbag wall break yesterday and that got water into the lobby so we'd have to refortify… We got a lot of help. A lot of great people.”
  — Local Gym Representative, [02:56]

Notable Segments & Timestamps

• Maduro to Face Charges in NYC: 00:03–01:05
• Airspace Closures/Flight Disruptions: 01:05–01:45
• California Flood Response & Volunteerism: 02:40–03:33
• British & French Strikes on ISIS in Syria: 03:33–04:19
• Swiss Memorial March: 04:19–04:34

This episode delivers a fast-paced round-up of key global and national events, marked by detailed reporting and a focus on impacts to ordinary citizens as well as high-level political dynamics.