3AM ET 02/12/2026 Newscast

Summary

---

Fox News Hourly Update – 3AM ET, February 12, 2026

Host: Ted Lindner
Correspondents: Jonathan Hunt, Jared Halpern, Jessica Rosenthal
Date: February 12, 2026

---

Episode Overview

This concise Fox News newscast provides listeners with urgent national headlines and major news developments as of early February 12, 2026. The episode leads with the ongoing search for missing Arizona woman Nancy Guthrie, continues with diplomatic updates from Washington regarding Iran nuclear talks, highlights Capitol Hill’s scrutiny over the Justice Department and files related to Jeffrey Epstein, and covers the deaths of 67 people in a mid-air crash as well as the passing of actor James Van Der Beek. Brief human-interest stories and political updates round out the segment.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ongoing Search for Nancy Guthrie

• [00:03] The search for missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie in Arizona continues into day 12.
  • Investigators are canvassing neighborhoods and following up on tips after doorbell camera footage showed a masked, gloved man at Guthrie's home.
  • Attention is focused on the route between Nancy’s and her daughter Annie’s home.
  • Two unidentified people were seen removing items from Annie Guthrie’s house; their identities (law enforcement or private security) remain unclear.
• Notable Quote:
  • Jonathan Hunt: “Much of the ongoing investigative work continues to be focused on a potential route between Nancy Guthrie's and her daughter Annie's home.” [00:21]
  • Context: Annie’s husband Tomaso is believed to be the last family member to see Nancy, having dropped her off the night of January 31.

2. Trump and Iran Nuclear Talks

• [01:03] President Trump continues to pursue negotiations with Iran following a closed-door meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
  • Netanyahu urged for talks to include restrictions on Iran’s ballistic missile program and its support for terror groups.
  • Trump stated preference for a diplomatic deal but referenced willingness to “see what the outcome is” if a deal isn’t reached, alluding to last year’s U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Jared Halpern: “President Trump says he insisted negotiations with Iran will continue…” [01:08]
  • "His preference is a deal, but warns if not, we just have to see what the outcome is, pointing to US Airstrikes last year targeting Iran's nuclear facilities.” [01:17]

3. Grieving Families Push for Aviation Safety Reforms

• [01:41] Families affected by a mid-air collision near Washington, D.C. (January 2025) that killed 67 people are pressing Congress to act on aviation safety.
  • The crash involved an airliner and an Army helicopter.
  • There’s momentum from families for Congress to pursue meaningful safety reforms.

4. Justice Department Faces Scrutiny Over Epstein Files

• [02:40] Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before the House Judiciary Committee regarding the handling and release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
  • Lawmakers, including Rep. Amy Raskin and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, criticized the department for incomplete compliance and for disproportionate redactions (victim names revealed, alleged abusers’ names concealed).
  • Bondi defended President Trump, whose name appeared in the files, and called Epstein a “monster.”
  • She expressed sympathy for victims and encouraged them to come forward to the FBI.
• Memorable Moments:
  • Pramila Jayapal challenged Bondi over redactions, requesting an apology to victims. [03:04]
  • Jessica Rosenthal reports Bondi’s apology:
    • “In her opening statement, Spondy called Epstein a monster and said she's sorry for what any victim of his went through and that any abuse victim should come forward to the FBI.” [03:33]

5. First Lady Melania Trump’s Visit to Children’s Inn

• [03:43] Melania Trump visits the Children’s Inn at NIH to celebrate an early Valentine’s Day with children being treated for severe illnesses.
  • This is her first visit during the second Trump administration; she previously visited three times in her first term.

6. Actor James Van Der Beek Passes Away

• [03:54] James Van Der Beek, known for “Dawson’s Creek,” has died at age 48.
  • His family’s statement: “He met his final days with courage, faith and grace. And there’s much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time.”
  • Van Der Beek had revealed his struggle with colorectal cancer in 2024.
  • The “Dawson’s Creek” theme song by Paula Cole was noted in the background as tribute.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith and grace.” [03:54] (Family statement)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie: 00:03 – 01:03
• Trump and Iran nuclear talks: 01:03 – 01:41
• Aviation safety reforms after deadly crash: 01:41 – 02:00
• Justice Dept. questioned on Epstein files: 02:40 – 03:43
• Melania Trump at Children’s Inn: 03:43 – 03:54
• James Van Der Beek’s death: 03:54 – 04:37

---

Tone and Style

Succinct, direct, and formal—notable for its rapid delivery and focus on major national and international news, alongside brief mentions of human interest and political drama. Occasional emotional and respectful notes are present in coverage of deaths and direct quotes from family statements.

---

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• “Much of the ongoing investigative work continues to be focused on a potential route between Nancy Guthrie's and her daughter Annie's home.”
  — Jonathan Hunt [00:21]

• “His preference is a deal, but warns if not, we just have to see what the outcome is, pointing to US Airstrikes last year targeting Iran's nuclear facilities.”
  — Jared Halpern [01:17]

• “In her opening statement, Spondy called Epstein a monster and said she's sorry for what any victim of his went through and that any abuse victim should come forward to the FBI.”
  — Jessica Rosenthal [03:33]

• “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith and grace.”
  — Van Der Beek family statement [03:54]

---

This summary contains all critical events and comments from the episode, structured for clarity and with explicit time references for each segment.

Transcript

[Ted Lindner]

The search continues. I'm ted Lindner, Fox News. Now to day 12 of the search for Nancy Guthrie. Investigators fanning out and canvassing roads in neighborhoods on Wednesday as well as fielding tips following the recent release of video showing a masked gloved man on the porch of the 84 year old's Arizona home. Fox's Jonathan Hunt with the latest for us this morning.

[Jonathan Hunt]

Much of the ongoing investigative work continues to be focused on a potential route between Nancy Guthrie's and her daughter Annie's home, A a home Annie shares with her husband Tomaso, who is believed to be the family member who last saw Nancy Guthrie when he dropped her off at her house on the evening of January 31, just hours before the mask suspect showed up on that doorbell camera video. Two people were seen removing items from Annie Guthrie's home. It's unclear whether they were law enforcement officers or members of the pro private security detail. The Guthrie family is believed to have hired.

[Ted Lindner]

President Trump, meantime, not backing away from Iran nuclear talks following a lengthy meeting with Israel's leader.

[Jared Halpern]

President Trump says he insisted negotiations with Iran will continue during an hours long closed door meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Ahead of the meeting, Netanyahu's office said the prime minister would urge talks with Iran to also include limits on its ballistic missile program and support for terror groups. President Trump in a social media statement says his preference is a deal, but warns if not, we just have to see what the outcome is, pointing to US Airstrikes last year targeting Iran's nuclear facilities. At the White House, Jared Halpern, FOX.

[Ted Lindner]

NEWS and grieving families are pressing Congress on aviation safety reforms in the wake of the mid air collision near Washington, D.C. in which 67 people died in that airliner crash with an army helicopter at the end of January 2025, a little over a year ago. America's listening to Fox.

[NetSuite Oracle Advertiser]

Business is asking the same question. How do we make AI work for us? No more waiting with NetSuite by Oracle. You can put AI to work today. NetSuite is the 1 AI Cloud ERP trusted by over 43,000 businesses. It's the unified suite that brings your finances, inventory, commerce, HR and CRM into a single source of truth. The connected data is what makes your AI smarter, helping you make fast decisions if your revenues are at least in the seven figures. Get our free business guide demystifying [e-mail] Fox.

[Ted Lindner]

Attorney General Pam Bondi appearing before a House judiciary hearing Wednesday where she faced questions about the Justice Department's handling of the release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the attorney general defending President Trump who's mentioned in the files. This has been around since the Obama administration. This administration was released over 3 million pages of documents. Fox's Jessica Rosenthal with more.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

The committee's ranking member, Democrat Amy Raskin, said Attorney General Pam Bondi has not properly complied with the law to release all of the Epstein related files they have, that many remain redacted. Washington Democratic Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said some victims names were not redacted while the names of some of the alleged abusers were. She told Bondi to apologize to victims in the hearing room.

[Ted Lindner]

What a massive no, I'm answering a question. Will you restore her time? The witnesses interrupted her with this woman.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

In her opening statement, Spondy called Epstein a monster and said she's sorry for what any victim of his went through and that any abuse victim should come forward to the FBI. Jessica Rosenthal, Fox News first lady Melania.

[Ted Lindner]

Trump paying a visit to the Children's Inn at the National Institutes of Health to celebrate an early Valentine's Day with kids and young adults being treated for rare and serious diseases. It's her first visit to the facility in the second Trump administration, having previously visited it three times in her first term. And James Van Der Beek, best known for his role in the late 90s early 2000s show Dawson's Creek, has died. A statement from the actor's family that was posted on Instagram said, our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith and grace. And there's much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Van Der beek revealed in 2024 that he was being treated for colorectal cancer. 90s pop star Paula Cole singing the theme of the show Dawson's Creek playing in the background. James Van Der Beek was 48 years old. I'm Ted Lindner and this is FOX News.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

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

[Jonathan Hunt]

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.