3AM ET 01/13/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 3AM ET, January 13, 2026

Host: Ted Lindner
Date: January 13, 2026

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Episode Overview

This newscast delivers rapid updates on high-profile national and international events. The January 13 edition centers on escalating tensions with Iran, a federal investigation and controversy in Minnesota involving childcare fraud and immigration enforcement, scrutiny of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, and a dispute impacting military benefits. The episode maintains a direct and urgent tone, consistent with breaking news reporting.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Heightened U.S.–Iran Tensions

• Economic Pressure from the U.S.

  • President Trump announces a 25% tariff on all goods imported to the U.S. from Iran’s trading partners as a means to pressure the Iranian regime amid a crackdown on anti-government protests.
  • Simultaneously, military strikes are being threatened if Iran escalates responses to protesters.

• Diplomatic Efforts Behind Closed Doors

  • Despite harsh public rhetoric, Press Secretary Caroline Levitt confirms that Iranian officials are privately seeking to set up talks with the U.S. ([00:18]).
  • Iranian officials, however, warn that U.S. military bases will become "legitimate targets" if the U.S. intervenes.
  • Notable Quote:
    "Iranian leaders have warned US Intervention would make US Military bases legitimate targets."
    — Jared Halperin, [00:38]

• Iran’s Internet Crackdown

  • Iran is reportedly tracking Starlink users to block protest footage from spreading ([00:44]), and while the national internet is restricted, some mobile phones can now make international calls.

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2. Federal Action and Controversies in Minnesota

• ICE and DHS Deployment

  • The Department of Homeland Security sends additional agents to Minneapolis after viral claims of widespread state welfare fraud ([00:56]).

• State Pushback

  • Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison sues DHS, seeking to protect the state from what he describes as unlawful and intimidating ICE tactics.
  • Notable Quote:
    "We asked the courts to end the DHS unlawful behavior in our state, the intimidation, the threats, the violence."
    — Keith Ellison, [01:11]

• ICE Responds

  • Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons counters allegations of racially biased arrests.
  • Notable Quote:
    "When ICE officers and ICE special agents are out there in the field, we conduct targeted enforcement so we know exactly who we're going after. So that's completely false and baseless."
    — Todd Lyons, [01:27]

• Federal Funding Suspended

  • In response to the investigation, USDA funding to Minnesota childcare programs is suspended ([03:03]).
  • The controversy stems from a YouTube exposé by conservative influencer Nick Shirley on daycare fraud.

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3. Political Reactions and Accusations

• Local & National Leaders Weigh In

  • Congressman Ilhan Omar criticizes the federal probe, claiming it causes "confusion and chaos."
  • Representative Wesley Hunt accuses Omar of not serving America’s interests ([02:31]).
  • Allegations arise about the net worth of Omar and potential investigations into state leadership.

• Notable Quote:
  "The idea that we are discovering fraud at the federal level, the fact that Tim Walz is going to resign and not seek re election, the fact that Ilhan OMAR makes about $174,000 a year, but somehow, miraculously, she is worth 30 million doll allegedly, which should be investigated, is a problem."
  — Keith Ellison (as reported), [02:46]

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4. Scrutiny on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell

• Criminal Investigation

  • President Trump claims ignorance of an investigation into Jerome Powell ([03:03]).
  • Powell confirms he received subpoenas relating to his testimony defending Fed building renovation costs.

• Powell’s Defense

  • Powell defends the Federal Reserve’s independence and decisions regarding interest rates.
  • Notable Quote:
    "I have carried out my duties without political fear or favor."
    — Jerome Powell, [03:18]
  • Notable Quote:
    "The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public rather than following the preferences of the president."
    — Jerome Powell, [03:41]

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5. Military Policy Dispute

• Arizona Senator vs. War Secretary
  • Arizona Democrat Senator Mark Kelly files suit against War Secretary Pete Hegseth over plans to dock his retirement pay and reduce his rank due to remarks about rejecting unlawful orders ([04:04]).
  • The dispute followed a formal letter of censure from Hegseth.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes with Timestamps

• “President Trump applying economic pressure on Iran as the regime cracks down on anti government protests.”
  — Ted Lindner, [00:04]
• “Iranian leaders have warned US Intervention would make US Military bases legitimate targets.”
  — Jared Halperin, [00:38]
• “We asked the courts to end the DHS unlawful behavior in our state, the intimidation, the threats, the violence.”
  — Keith Ellison, [01:11]
• "When ICE officers and ICE special agents are out there in the field, we conduct targeted enforcement... that's completely false and baseless."
  — Todd Lyons, [01:27]
• “I have carried out my duties without political fear or favor.”
  — Jerome Powell, [03:18]
• “The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates... rather than following the preferences of the president.”
  — Jerome Powell, [03:41]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Iran Crisis/International Tensions: [00:03]–[00:44]
• Minnesota Welfare Fraud and Immigration Enforcement: [00:44]–[02:31]
• Federal Reserve Scrutiny: [03:03]–[03:54]
• Military Policy Dispute: [04:04]–[04:28]

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This episode delivers fast-paced, headline-driven coverage of breaking U.S. and global news, providing direct insight from government figures and reporters on high-stakes developments.

Transcript

[Ted Lindner]

Putting the pressure on Iran. I'm Ted Lindner. Fox News. President Trump applying economic pressure on Iran as the regime cracks down on anti government protests. Fox's Jared Halperin's got more from the White House.

[Jared Halperin]

Iran's trading partners will face a 25% tariff on goods imported to the U.S. president Trump says as he threatens military strikes over Iran's response to protests across the country. Still, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt says Iranian officials are reaching out to the administration and to set up talks.

[Ainsley Earhart]

Expressing a far different tone than what.

[Jared Halperin]

You'Re seeing publicly in public. Iranian leaders have warned US Intervention would make US Military bases legitimate targets at the White House. Jared Halpern, FOX News.

[Ted Lindner]

New this morning, the Wall Street Journal reporting Iran is hunting down Starlink users to keep the videos of the protest from going viral. Some mobile phones in Iran are now able to make international calls after authorities cut Internet in its crackdown on protests against the regime. The Department of Homeland Security plans to send more agents to Minneapolis amid ICE operations in response of widespread welfare fraud. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announcing a lawsuit against dhs, saying he wants to end what he called a surge in personnel.

[Keith Ellison]

We asked the courts to end the DHS unlawful behavior in our state, the intimidation, the threats, the violence.

[Ted Lindner]

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons responding to allegations by Minnesota's leaders that ICE is arresting people based on race.

[Todd Lyons]

You know that's 100% false. When ICE officers and ICE special agents are out there in the field, we conduct targeted enforcement so we know exactly who we're going after. So that's completely false and baseless.

[Ted Lindner]

Lyons making those comments on the FOX News Channel. ICE and DHS agents were deployed to Minnesota after conservative influencer Nick Shirley's YouTube video alleging daycare fraud went viral. The federal government paused child care payments to Minnesota and other states in response. America's listening to FOX News.

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[Ted Lindner]

Federal agents continue to investigate alleged fraud in the state of Minnesota. Far left Congressman Ilhan Omar says the federal probe is causing confusion and chaos. But Republican Texas Congressman Wesley Hunt telling Fox's Will Kaine. He thinks Omar does not serve America's interests.

[Keith Ellison]

The idea that we are discovering fraud at the federal level, the fact that Tim Walz is going to resign and not seek re election, the fact that Ilhan OMAR makes about $174,000 a year, but somehow, miraculously, she is worth 30 million doll allegedly, which should be investigated, is a problem.

[Ted Lindner]

The Trump administration is suspending all USDA funding to Minnesota as the investigation into childcare programs across the state continues. President Trump claims he was unaware about an investigation into the head of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, Fox Business's Edward Lawrence.

[Jerome Powell]

I have carried out my duties without political fear or favor.

[Edward Lawrence]

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell With a sharp response to the administration's threat of criminal charges, the Federal Reserve chairman confirmed criminal grand jury subpoenas arrived Friday over his testimony from a June Senate Banking Committee hearing where Powell defended the cost overruns in two Fed building renovations exceeding $2.6 billion.

[Jerome Powell]

Those are pretexts. The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public rather than following the preferences of the president.

[Edward Lawrence]

During that hearing, Powell answered charges that the buildings were getting VIP elevators, new mar roof, terrace gardens and other special amenities.

[Ted Lindner]

The Justice Department says it's prioritizing investigations into any abuse of taxpayer dollars. And Arizona Democrat Senator Mark Kelly suing War Secretary Pete Hegseth over plans to cut his retirement pay and reduce his rank over comments he recently made urging US Service members to reject unlawful orders. The war of words between Hegseth and Kelly ended with a formal letter of censure last week by Hegseth. I'm Ted Lindner. This is Fox News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

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

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