Fox News Hourly Update — 3PM ET, February 2, 2026

Host: Alisa Brady (FOX News Podcasts)
Date: February 2, 2026

Episode Overview

This hour’s update covers several breaking national stories: the Justice Department’s removal of Jeffrey Epstein case materials from the public record, President Trump’s social media response to recent events, the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother in Arizona, major diplomatic and trade news regarding India and Russia, possible criminal referrals for the Clintons, and the performance of the new Melania Trump documentary. The episode closes with a financial market snapshot.

Key Stories & Insights

1. DOJ Removes Epstein Documents From Website

• [00:03 - 00:17]

  • DOJ pulls thousands of documents, videos, and images from its site after complaints that some contained explicit victim-identifying material related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
  • Notable Detail: The removal happened after millions of documents were published, with reports that “dozens of nude images” were exposed.
  • Legal Context:
    • A federally-mandated law from last year requires the full release of Epstein files, but with redactions to protect explicit content and victim identities.

  Quote:

  • "Officials worked all hours through the weekend from the point the first victim-related concerns were raised to take down documents and media that may have inadvertently included victim identifying information."
    — DOJ Statement, paraphrased by Fox reporter ([00:17])

2. President Trump Denies Visiting Epstein’s Island

• [00:44 - 01:02]
  • President Trump posts on his platform that he never visited “the infested Epstein island.”
  • He hints there may be legal action forthcoming, partially in response to comments made by the Grammys host the previous night.

3. Arizona Search for Savannah Guthrie’s Mother

• [01:02 - 01:39]

  • Who: 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today Show anchor Savannah Guthrie, missing since Saturday evening in Pima County, AZ.
  • Law Enforcement Response:
    • Investigation is being handled as a crime, not a voluntary disappearance.
    • Drones and search dogs deployed; authorities appeal for doorbell or surveillance footage from local residents.

  Quotes:

  • “We do in fact have a crime.” — Sheriff Chris Nano ([01:02])
  • “Don't dismiss it that, ‘Oh well, we really can't see the house.’ They still might see something. Maybe it's somebody walking by, maybe it's a vehicle driving by at that time of day.”
    — Sheriff Nano, urging public vigilance ([01:25])

4. India to Stop Buying Russian Oil, US to Lower Tariffs

• [01:39 - 02:00]
  • President Trump announces India’s agreement to halt Russian oil purchases, after months of US pressure.
  • In Exchange: US will lower tariffs on Indian goods.
  • Comes just ahead of upcoming trilateral talks among the US, Russia, and Ukraine.

5. House to Consider Criminal Referrals for the Clintons

• [02:15 - 02:57]

  • The House Rules Committee will address contempt of Congress resolutions against Bill and Hillary Clinton, who declined subpoenas to testify before the House Oversight Committee about Jeffrey Epstein.
  • Full House vote set for later in the week on whether to refer the Clintons to the Department of Justice for criminal charges.
  • Recent Epstein File Dump:
    • New files implicate well-known figures (Bill Gates, Elon Musk) and describe friendly relations between Epstein and both Trump and Clinton.
    • Clintons have denied any wrongdoing, questioning the validity of the subpoenas.

  Quote:

  • “The Clintons were subpoenaed...regarding Jeffrey Epstein, but declined to appear.”
    — Ainsley Earhart ([02:20])
  • “The Clintons have denied any wrongdoing and argued the subpoenas were invalid.”
    — Tani J. Powers ([02:57])

6. Melania Trump Documentary Outperforms Box Office Expectations

• [03:07 - 03:48]

  • The film "Melania" earns $7 million opening weekend (against $40M rights and $35M market spend).
  • Audience: 72% female, 83% over age 45—highest-performing documentary in a decade, with top performance in rural and conservative-leaning areas.
  • Critics panned the film but audiences gave it a 99% Rotten Tomatoes score.

  Quote:

  • “The first lady is touting the performance, saying on X ‘number one highest in 10 years.’”
    — Madeline Rivera ([03:07])
  • “Documentaries are not huge ticket sales drivers. The majority of them open under $5 million. So the fact that Melania made $7 million on opening weekend is a success.”
    — Madeline Rivera ([03:07])

7. Market Close Snapshot

• [03:48 - End]
  • Dow up 571 points.
  • Oil drops to under $62/barrel (down nearly 5%).
  • Gold rebounds to over $4,700/ounce after a recent plunge.

Memorable Moments

• Sheriff Nano’s call to the community: "Don't dismiss it that... They still might see something.” ([01:25])
• Madeline Rivera putting Melania’s documentary win into context: “Most documentaries open under $5 million... so $7 million is a success.” ([03:07])

Notable Segment Timestamps

• 00:03 — DOJ pulls Epstein material from site
• 01:02 — Sheriff on Guthrie case, calls it a crime
• 01:39 — Trump announces India/Russia oil agreement
• 02:15 — House prepares Clinton contempt vote
• 03:07 — Melania Trump documentary performance
• 03:48 — Financial markets update

Tone & Language

The update maintains a brisk, fact-driven tone, packed with developments and succinct expert soundbites, characteristic of Fox News’s rapid-fire newscasts. Direct quotes from officials, notably President Trump and Sheriff Nano, are woven in to underscore the gravity and urgency of the lead stories.