3AM ET 02/19/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 3AM ET 02/19/2026 Newscast

Host: Chris DeMaio
Date: February 19, 2026
Podcast: Fox News Hourly Update

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Episode Overview

This Fox News Hourly Update encapsulates breaking national and international news stories as of the early morning on February 19, 2026. The episode focuses on a tragic avalanche in California, ongoing search efforts in a high-profile missing persons case in Arizona, escalating tensions between the US and Iran, Uber’s latest investment in autonomous vehicles, and a courtroom battle involving Mark Zuckerberg and the social media industry’s impact on youth mental health.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. California Avalanche Tragedy

• Location: Sierra Nevada, California
• Casualties: Eight dead, one missing, six rescued after an avalanche buried a group of 15 skiers on a guided backcountry trip amidst a severe winter storm.
• Rescue Efforts:
  • Weather remains a challenge for ongoing search operations.
  • The six survivors include a man and five women, ages 30–55; two were hospitalized, one released, and all injuries are non-life-threatening.
  • Officials confirm extremity of conditions and note that this is the deadliest US avalanche since 1981.

Notable Quotes:

• Sheriff Shannon Moon (00:12):

  "Rescuers responded to a call about an avalanche burying 15 skiers in a rugged backcountry area Tuesday, revealing six were rescued but eight were found dead and one is still missing."

• Kristen Goodwin (00:40):

  "One individual was stabilized last night and released. One is still being treated at the hospital. I've been told both subjects are non-life threatening injuries."

• Chris DeMaio (00:58):

  "The avalanche [is] the deadliest in the US since 1981 when 11 climbers were killed on Mount Rainier in Washington."

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2. Arizona Missing Person Case

• Subject: Search for Nancy Guthrie, missing for 19 days.
• Developments:
  • Tip line receives an anonymous $100,000 donation, raising the local reward to $102,500, plus a $100,000 FBI reward.
  • Law enforcement withholding operational details, including collaboration with Mexican authorities and investigative techniques.
  • SWAT team movements and other search actions remain confidential.

Notable Quote:

• Grinnell Scott (01:15):

  "The Pima County Sheriff's Office says its tip line has gotten an anonymous $100,000 donation to help solicit more information. That brings the local reward to $102,500 in addition to the $100,000 the FBI has offered."

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3. US-Iran Tensions Escalate

• Diplomatic Update: Talks between the United States and Iran have faltered, with heightened war risk.
• US Outlook:
  • A senior adviser warns of a "90% chance" of military action against Iran in the next few weeks if diplomacy fails.
  • Iran claims progress but issues threats against US interests, and conducts joint naval drills with Russia.
  • Context: On the eve of the inaugural Board of Peace meeting, aiming to curb conflict in Gaza and rebuild the area.

Notable Quote:

• Kevin Cork (02:37):

  "There's a 90% chance of military action against Iran within the next few weeks if diplomatic efforts continue to falter."

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4. Uber’s Autonomous Vehicle Expansion

• Investment: Over $100 million into autonomous vehicle charging centers.
• Implementation:
  • Charging depots in key cities: Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Dallas, with plans for more.
  • Collaboration with Google’s Waymo and China’s WeRide to offer robo-taxis.
  • Broader ambitions: self-driving freight and delivery.

Notable Quote:

• Kristen Goodwin (03:21):

  "Uber Technologies is investing more than $100 million to develop autonomous vehicle charging hubs... the move includes the depots where Uber runs day to day operations and at pit stops throughout priority cities."

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5. Social Media and Youth Mental Health: Zuckerberg Courtroom Testimony

• Context:
  • Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies regarding Instagram's impact on youth mental health, amid a lawsuit filed by a 20-year-old plaintiff aiming to hold social media giants accountable.
  • Debate on companies’ responsibilities and internal advice on how Zuckerberg should present himself.

Notable Quote:

• Chris DeMaio (04:03):

  "The Meta CEO answered questions about young people's use of Instagram, even the internal advice he received to be authentic and not robotic. The plaintiff, a now 20 year old woman, is seeking to hold social media companies responsible for mental health harms to children who use their platforms."

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Avalanche in Sierra Nevada: 00:02–00:58
• Search for Nancy Guthrie: 01:15–01:54
• US-Iran Tensions: 02:31–03:18
• Uber Autonomous Vehicle Expansion: 03:21–04:03
• Zuckerberg Testifies on Social Media & Mental Health: 04:03–04:28

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Memorable Moments

• Sheriff Shannon Moon describing the extreme conditions of the avalanche rescue (00:12, 00:49).
• Breaking update on the unprecedented reward for Nancy Guthrie’s case (01:15).
• Stark warning over potential US-Iran military conflict, as diplomatic efforts falter (02:37).
• Uber’s ambitious move into autonomous vehicle infrastructure, signaling the future of rideshare (03:21).
• Public scrutiny of Meta’s leadership and youth mental health in court (04:03).

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This Fox News Hourly Update rapidly covers high-impact stories—capturing urgent developments and public safety issues, technological innovation, and geopolitics—in a concise, direct style representative of the network’s breaking news ethos.

Transcript

[Chris DeMaio]

A tragic Discovery. I'm Chris DeMaio, Fox News. Eight skiers are dead in California's Sierra Nevada after being buried in an avalanche Tuesday as heavy snow continues to fall.

[Sheriff Shannon Moon]

Sheriff Shannon Moon of California's Nevada county says rescuers responded to a call about an avalanche burying 15 skiers in a rugged backcountry area Tuesday, revealing six were rescued but eight were found dead and one is still missing.

[Kristen Goodwin]

The effort remains ongoing as well as our search for the remaining skier, but.

[Sheriff Shannon Moon]

The weather is a factor, noting those rescued include a man and five women who range in age from 30 to 55 years old, adding two were injured and taken to the hospital.

[Kristen Goodwin]

One individual was stabilized last night and released. One is still being treated at the hospital. I've been told both subjects are non life threatening injuries.

[Sheriff Shannon Moon]

Officials say the group was on a guided trip together when the avalanche overtook them amid extreme conditions during a winter storm crash. Kristen Goodwin, FOX News.

[Chris DeMaio]

The avalanche the deadliest in the US since 1981 when 11 climbers were killed on Mount Rainier in Washington. As the urgency increases in Arizona to find Nancy Guthrie, so is the cash incentive to get information to help investigators. Here's Fox's granola. Scott.

[Grinnell Scott]

The Pima County Sheriff's Office says its tip line has gotten an anonymous $100,000 donation to help solicit more information. That brings the local reward to 102,500 DOL. That's in addition to the $100,000 the FBI has offered. Other information about search operations, including SWAT team movement are not being shared by the sheriff's office. Any collaboration with Mexican law enforcement or data from investigative tools such as lie detectors and video surveillance are also being kept confidential. Today marks the 19th day that Nancy Guthrie has been missing.

[Chris DeMaio]

Grinnell Scott, FOX News America's listening to FOX News News.

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[Chris DeMaio]

Tensions are rising between the US And Iran as diplomatic talks failed to reach a breakthrough.

[Kevin Cork]

Even as the president prepares for the first meeting of the Board of Peace, it is clear tonight the US May be a lot closer to a major war in the Middle east than a lot of people realize, with one senior adviser to the president warning Tonight there's a 90% chance of military action against Iran within the next few weeks if diplomatic efforts continue to falter. Meanwhile, the regime is claiming some progress in the talks while simultaneously threatening strikes on the US Interests in the region and holding joint naval drills with Russia. This on a day ahead of the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, the president's initiative for ending the war in Gaza, and of course, the detailed rebuilding of that area.

[Chris DeMaio]

Fox's Kevin Cork Uber is expanding their.

[Kristen Goodwin]

Rideshare services Uber Technologies is investing more than $100 million to develop develop autonomous vehicle charging hubs. It's Uber's latest push to scale up its self driving service. The move includes the depots where Uber runs day to day operations and at pit stops throughout priority cities. The charging expansion will start in California's Bay Area and Los Angeles. Also in Dallas. Before expanding, Uber has partnered with Google's waymo in the US China's WeRide to offer Robo taxis on its ride. Apple it's also working on self driving, freight and delivery. Jenny Coselda, Fox News Mark Zuckerberg at.

[Chris DeMaio]

Opposing lawyers went head to head in a Los Angeles courtroom. The Meta CEO answered questions about young people's use of Instagram, even the internal advice he received to be authentic and not robotic. The plaintiff, a now 20 year old woman, is seeking to hold social media companies responsible for mental health harms to children who use their platforms met and YouTube. Settled. I'm Chris Dimaio, this is Fox News News.

[Sheriff Shannon Moon]

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

[Chris DeMaio]

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.