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We're back to a Shutdown. I'm Chris DiMaio, Fox News. The Senate passes a spending bill for most of the government, but the measure only provides two weeks of funding to the Department of Homeland Security. The clock has run out and so there's a partial government shutdown.
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About 78% of the federal government is unfunded right now. Is the Pentagon, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Transportation? Last week, the House of Representatives passed a full spending bill for all of these departments and sent this over to the Senate. Well, Democrats started to say we need some changes with ice. So we want to defund the Department of Homeland Security, only fund it for a shortened period of time. And so what they did is they broke off the DHS funding bill. Well, at that point, the Senate and the House of Representatives were not aligned. So they have to pass in the House of Representatives what the Senate did. Otherwise the government shutdown continues.
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Fox's Chad Pergrim. The House is likely to vote on the package on Monday, but it's unclear how many members will support it. President Trump agreed to the deal earlier this week with Senate Democrats. A nor' easter is sweeping across parts of the Southeast this weekend.
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As the storm strengthens, it will likely become a bomb cyclone. Snow is expected to rapidly expand across the higher terrain of Virginia, the Carolinas, and into northern Georgia. Saturday appears to be the day when the bulk of the snowfall occurs in this region. Some travelers are already bracing for flight cancellations and delays due to the storm. There's also some concern over powerful winds during high tide Sunday morning that could increase the risk for coastal flooding in some locations.
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That's fox's Christina Coleman reporting. New York Governor Kathy Hochul takes steps to end the practice of local police departments assisting ICE in her state. Maintaining ICE has gotten out of control, adding that this stops for now and calling ICE a rogue federal agency. America's listening to FOX News.
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Five years ago, the US Brought leaders from Israel, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain together to sign the Abraham Accords. I'm Megan Alexander and this is Middle East. Tomorrow go to partners.foxnews.com met.
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Luigi Mangione, who's awaiting trial on charges of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson won't face the death penalty. Fox's Nate Foy has more from New York City.
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The biggest news here is that the judge has agreed with Mangione's defense team to throw out the most serious charge against him of murder through use of a firearm and another firearms weapons charge. This means that the death penalty is now off the table in this federal case in New York State. As far as the state case doesn't do the death penalty, the other big decision, the judge denied Mangione's defense team's request to suppress some of the evidence.
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The judge left the stalking charges in place, which could get Mangione up to life in prison. And he's pleaded not guilty. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche says that the Department of Justice released millions of more files from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
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More than 3 million pages are now being posted to the Justice Department website. This includes more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images. The deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanche, took multiple questions on the files released today and said most of the videos are commercial pornography. Not all videos featuring Jeffrey Epstein were shot by Je Jeffrey Epstein. Blanche says medical records, images that may show harm toward children and any sort of physical abuse were not released publicly. Some of the names mentioned in the files dumped today, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Steve Bannon. Again, not much context when names are released. Important to point that out. And we've not seen evidence that anything was criminal between those men.
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Fox's David Spunt. Meanwhile, upon release of the Epstein files, which mentions his name, New York Giants co owner Steve Tisch releases a statement in which he says he deeply regrets associating with the convicted sex offender and denying he never went to his infamous Island. I'm Chris DiMaio. This is Fox News.
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This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of Jesus.
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A listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow now@foxnewspodcasts.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Date: January 31, 2026
Host: Chris DiMaio (FOX News)
Reporters: Chad Pergram, Christina Coleman, Nate Foy, David Spunt
Episode Purpose:
Provide a concise, up-to-the-minute rundown of national and international breaking news, current affairs, and hot topics impacting Americans right now.
This episode centers around the partial U.S. government shutdown, urgent federal budget debates, severe winter weather in the Southeast, major developments in high-profile criminal cases, and a significant Department of Justice document release related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
[00:03 – 00:54]
The Senate passed a spending bill but only provided two weeks of funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), resulting in a partial government shutdown.
Reporter Chad Pergram explains that about 78% of the federal government is currently unfunded, including critical departments such as the Pentagon, Housing and Urban Development, and Transportation.
The House had previously passed a full spending bill, but disagreements between House and Senate, particularly over DHS and ICE funding, have caused a legislative deadlock.
Senate Democrats pushed to defund or restrict ICE, resulting in the separation of DHS’s funding from the rest.
The House will likely vote Monday on the Senate package, but passage is uncertain.
President Trump reportedly agreed to the compromise earlier in the week.
"About 78% of the federal government is unfunded right now... So they have to pass in the House of Representatives what the Senate did. Otherwise the government shutdown continues."
— Chad Pergram [00:17]
[01:08 – 01:37]
Meteorologist Christina Coleman reports on a strengthening nor'easter threatening the Southeast.
The storm is forecast to become a "bomb cyclone," bringing heavy snow to high elevations in Virginia, the Carolinas, and northern Georgia, particularly on Saturday.
Early travel disruptions are expected, with concerns about high winds and possible coastal flooding during Sunday morning’s high tide.
"As the storm strengthens, it will likely become a bomb cyclone. Snow is expected to rapidly expand across the higher terrain of Virginia, the Carolinas, and into northern Georgia."
— Christina Coleman [01:08]
[01:37 – 02:00]
New York Governor Kathy Hochul moves to halt cooperation between state police departments and ICE, labeling ICE a "rogue federal agency."
She asserts that the state's collaboration with ICE has "gotten out of control" and emphasizes the immediate end to this coordination.
"ICE has gotten out of control... this stops for now..."
— Chris DiMaio reporting on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s statement [01:37]
[02:00 – 02:16]
[02:16 – 02:54]
Update on Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Judge dismisses the most severe federal charge (murder with a firearm), removing the death penalty as an option.
State charges for stalking remain, which could result in life imprisonment; Mangione maintains his not guilty plea.
Judge denies defense motion to suppress evidence.
"The judge has agreed with Mangione's defense team to throw out the most serious charge against him... This means that the death penalty is now off the table in this federal case..."
— Nate Foy [02:26]
[02:54 – 03:54]
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announces the release of over 3 million pages, including 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, from the federal Epstein investigation.
Sensitive or explicit content, especially child harm or abuse, was withheld.
High-profile names listed in file indices include Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Steve Bannon, but "no evidence that anything was criminal" regarding these individuals.
Reporter David Spunt clarifies most videos involve "commercial pornography" and warns not to draw conclusions based on mere name appearances.
"It's important to point that out. And we've not seen evidence that anything was criminal between those men."
— David Spunt [03:54]
[03:54 – 04:13]
"So they have to pass in the House of Representatives what the Senate did. Otherwise the government shutdown continues." [00:50]
"Travelers are already bracing for flight cancellations and delays due to the storm." [01:20]
"Not much context when names are released. Important to point that out." [03:50]
This episode captures breaking stories across government, law, weather, and public interest, embodying the brisk, information-first tone of Fox News radio.