3PM ET 01/02/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 3PM ET 01/02/2026 Newscast

Date: January 2, 2026
Host: John Saucier
Podcast: Fox News Hourly Update
Runtime for Summary: 00:02–03:54

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise roundup of major national and international news, including a foiled terror plot in North Carolina, an update on the January 6, 2021 Capitol incident, the death of Tommy Lee Jones’s daughter, leadership changes in Ukraine, pandemic loan fraud in Minnesota, and a concerning rise in flu cases across the U.S.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Foiled Terror Attack in North Carolina

• Segment: 00:02–00:55
• Details: Federal law enforcement stopped an 18-year-old, Christian Sturtevant, from carrying out a planned attack on a grocery store and fast food restaurant in Mint Hill, NC.
• Law Enforcement Findings:
  • Sturtevant spent about a year planning, was influenced online, especially on TikTok.
  • Reached out to what he thought was ISIS, but was actually communicating with undercover agents.
  • Disclosed to agents his intent: “do jihad soon.” (John Saucier, 00:29)
  • FBI found hammers, knives, and a typed attack plan at his residence.
  • Arrested on New Year's Eve and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
• Notable Quote:

  "He pledged his allegiance to ISIS with that undercover agent and he disclosed his plans to, quote, do jihad soon."
  — John Saucier (00:29)

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2. Jan. 6 Related Pipe Bomb Case Update

• Segment: 00:55–01:44
• Details: Brian Cole Jr., accused of planting pipe bombs near Republican and Democratic national committee headquarters in D.C. on January 5, 2021, will remain in pretrial detention.
• Legal Highlights:
  • Arrested after a five-year investigation.
  • Judge Matthew Scharbaugh cited community safety, stating “no conditions...could impose to reasonably assure the safety of the community.” (Jared Halpern, 01:27)
• Notable Quote:

  "Cole was arrested last month in his Virginia home following a nearly five-year investigation to determine his identity."
  — Jared Halpern (01:16)

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3. Death of Victoria Jones

• Segment: 01:44–01:59
• Details: Victoria Jones, daughter of actor Tommy Lee Jones, was found deceased in a California hotel on New Year's Day from a suspected drug overdose.
• Source: TMZ first reported the story.
• Tone: Brief, factual.

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4. Leadership Changes in Ukraine

• Segment: 02:22–02:52
• Details: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appoints General Kyrylo Budanov, former head of military intelligence, as his new chief of staff amid security concerns and corruption probes.
• Context:
  • The U.S. and Russia are calling for elections in Ukraine.
  • Budanov’s appointment linked to need for heightened security focus.
  • Zelensky’s previous chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, dismissed during an investigation into graft.
• Notable Quote:

  "Budanov is considered a potential future presidential candidate as the US and Russia call for new elections in Ukraine."
  — Chris Foster (02:35)

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5. Minnesota Pandemic Loan Fraud Crackdown

• Segment: 02:58–03:30
• Details:
  • The SBA found almost 7,000 people in Minnesota suspected of fraudulently receiving approximately $400 million in pandemic-era loans.
  • These individuals are now banned from future SBA loans; cases referred for prosecution and repayment.
  • SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler stated Minnesota is "just the beginning." (Garrett Ney, 03:15)
  • Health and Human Services cut off some federal funding to Minnesota.
• Notable Quote:

  "We are going to make sure now that we understand the breadth and the depth and the method of these crimes that we hold more states accountable."
  — SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, quoted by Jessica Rosenthal (03:22)

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6. Flu Cases Spiking Nationwide

• Segment: 03:34–03:54
• Details:
  • Surge driven by a new flu variant called subclade K.
  • Highest activity in Northeast, especially New York and New Jersey.
  • Hospitalizations are up, but severity is still considered low for now.
  • Reminder to stay vigilant and practice good hygiene.
• Closing Note:

  "A stark reminder to stay vigilant. Keep washing those hands."
  — John Saucier (03:51)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "He pledged his allegiance to ISIS with that undercover agent and he disclosed his plans to, quote, do jihad soon."
  — John Saucier (00:29)

• "Cole was arrested last month in his Virginia home following a nearly five-year investigation to determine his identity."
  — Jared Halpern (01:16)

• "Budanov is considered a potential future presidential candidate as the US and Russia call for new elections in Ukraine."
  — Chris Foster (02:35)

• "We are going to make sure now that we understand the breadth and the depth and the method of these crimes that we hold more states accountable."
  — SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, quoted by Jessica Rosenthal (03:22)

• "A stark reminder to stay vigilant. Keep washing those hands."
  — John Saucier (03:51)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:02: Terror attack foiled in North Carolina – Jessica Rosenthal
• 00:55: Brian Cole Jr. pipe bomb case update – Jared Halpern
• 01:44: Victoria Jones found dead
• 02:22: Ukraine leadership shakeup – Chris Foster
• 02:58: Minnesota pandemic loan fraud crackdown – Garrett Ney, Jessica Rosenthal
• 03:34: Flu surge, new variant spreading – John Saucier

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This episode of the Fox News Hourly Update offers concise, fact-focused reporting on current high-interest national and international events, with a serious and urgent tone throughout.

Transcript

[John Saucier]

A teenage terrorist busted. I'm John Saucier, FOX News. Federal officials announcing the FBI and police were able to stop a planned terror attack at a grocery store and fast food restaurant outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. Here's Fox's Jessica Rosenthal.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

North Carolina U.S. attorney Russ Ferguson says 18 year old Christian Sturtevant was planning an attack for about a year. He'd spent a lot of time online and on TikTok and ended up reaching out to someone he thought was with the Islamic State.

[John Saucier]

He pledged his allegiance to ISIS with that undercover agent and he disclosed his plans to, quote, do jihad soon.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

The FBI says he then told a second agent about his plan to attack a grocery store on New Year's Eve in Mint Hill, North Carolina. When agents searched his home and phone, they found hammers and knives as well as a typed out attack plan. He was arrested New Year's Eve and has been charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Jessica Rosenthal, FOX News.

[John Saucier]

The Virginia man accused of planting pipe bombs near major party headquarters in D.C. before the Capitol riot is going to remain in jail. Fox's Jared Halpern with this update out of Washington, a federal judge is ordering.

[Jared Halpern]

Brian Cole Jr. To remain in pretrial detention. Cole is charged with planting pipe bombs near the headquarters of the Republican National Committee and Democratic national committee in Washington, D.C. on January 5, 2021. The next day, rioters would storm the U.S. capitol protesting certification of the 2020 election. Cole was arrested last month in his Virginia home following a nearly five year investigation to determine his identity. In his order, Judge Matthew Scharbaugh concludes there are no conditions the court could impose to reasonably assure the safety of the community. In Washington, Jared Halpern, FOX NEWS and.

[John Saucier]

Actor Tommy Lee Jones's daughter Victoria was found dead at a California hotel on New Year's Day. The call came into police as a suspected drug overdose. TMZ first broke this story. America is listening to FOX News.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

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

[John Saucier]

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. Ukraine's president announcing some leadership changes in this new year. Fox's Chris Foster reports.

[Chris Foster]

President Zelensky appointed as his new chief of staff the head of Ukraine's military intelligence, General Kyrylo Budanov, one of the country's highest profile generals. Zelensky announcing the appointments as Ukraine needs greater focus on security issues. Budanov is considered a potential future presidential candidate as the US And Russia call for new elections in Ukraine. Zelenskyy had dismissed his previous chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, after anti corruption officials started investigating alleged graft in the energy sector. The head of Ukraine's foreign intelligence takes over Budinov's position in the military. Chris Foster, FOX News.

[John Saucier]

Another federal agency taking action against the state of Minnesota. Fox's Garreteney is reporting from Chicago.

[Garrett Ney]

The Small Business Administration says it found nearly 7,000 individuals in Minnesota suspected of fraudulently taking out pandemic era loans to the tune of roughly $400 million. The agency says it will now be banning those individuals from any future SBA loans and will refer every fraud case for prosecution and for repayment. This morning, SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler said Minnesota is just the beginning.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

We are going to make sure now that we understand the breadth and the depth and the method of these crimes that we hold more states accountable.

[Garrett Ney]

This week, the Department of Health and Human Services also took steps to cut off the flow of federal funding.

[John Saucier]

The House Oversight Committee is planning to begin hearings on the Minnesota fraud scandal next week. Cases of the flu rapidly rising around the United States, driven by a new influenza variant called subclate K. It's causing high activity in over half the state, significant surges in the Northeast, mostly New York and New Jersey, and increased hospitalizations, though severity indicators do remain low as the season just beginning. But there are millions of people sick. Hundreds of deaths have been reported so far for this 2025, 26 season, a stark reminder to stay vigilant. Keep washing those hands. In New York, I'm John Saucier and this is FOX News.