3PM ET 02/02/2026 Newscast

Summary

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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])

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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.

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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])

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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])

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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.

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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])

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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

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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.

Transcript

[Alisa Brady]

A do over for the Justice Department on Lisa Brady, FOX News Days after millions of documents related to the federal probe of Jeffrey Epstein were published. The DOJ removing thousands of videos and images from its website following complaints about some material.

[Fox News Reporter]

A statement from the DOJ says 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. The New York Times reports dozens of nude images were published. A law passed by Congress last year requires the full release of Epstein files, but with both sexually explicit images and information that could identify victims redacted.

[Alisa Brady]

Fox's Jared Halpern the White House. Meantime, President Trump posting he never went to what he calls the infested Epstein island, also suggesting there may be legal action in part over comments made by the Grammys host last night. Sheriff's officials in Arizona say the missing mom of a TV host did not leave on her own.

[Sheriff Chris Nano]

We do in fact have a crime.

Pima County, Arizona Sheriff Chris Nano said that's what the scene at the home of 84 year old Nancy Guthrie indicates. She's the mother of today's show anchor Savannah Guthrie and was reportedly last seen at her home Saturday evening. Sheriff Nano said drones and search dogs are being used now. They're also turning to the community and what they may have captured on doorbell or surveillance cameras.

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.

The sheriff said they will also talk to workers that maintain the home to find out what they may have seen.

[Alisa Brady]

Fox's girl Scott after months of pressure from the US President Trump says India's prime minister agrees to stop buying Russian oil and in turn the US Will lower tariffs on goods from India. The oil announcement coming just ahead of another round of trilateral talks between the U.S. russia and Ukraine. This week America is listening to Fox News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

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

[Podcast Narrator]

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.

[Alisa Brady]

The U.S. house is expected to take up possible criminal referrals for the Clintons this week.

[Ainsley Earhart]

The House Rules Committee is expected to consider a pair of contempt of Congress resolutions targeting former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton while the full House is slated to vote later this week on whether to refer them to the Justice Department for criminal charges. The Clintons were subpoenaed to testify before the House Oversight Committee regarding Jeffrey Epstein, but declined to appear. More of the Epstein files were released on Friday and included famous names like billionaires Bill Gates and Elon Musk. The records show Epstein was friendly with former President Clinton as well as President Trump. Epstein killed himself in a New York jail in 2019 after being indicted for sex trafficking.

[Alisa Brady]

Fox's Tani J. Powers the Clintons have denied any wrongdoing and argued the subpoenas were invalid. The first lady stuck in documentary Melania faring better than expected for its opening weekend in theaters.

[Madeline Rivera]

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. It did cost a lot to make it. Amazon paid $40 million for the rights to release the film and $35 million to market it. Critics had panned it even though audiences gave it a 99% rating on rotten Tomatoes. The first lady is touting the performance, saying on X number one highest in 10 years. According to Variety, the audience was 72% female, 83% were over the age of 45. The film also reportedly performed best in rural areas and cities that lean Red Fox's Madeline Rivera.

[Alisa Brady]

The film gives a behind the scenes look of several weeks leading up to the Trump return to the White House an hour to the close. On Wall street, the Dow's up 571 points as oil slides under $62 a barrel, down nearly 5%. Gold remains lower, but for now back over $4,700 an ounce after a Friday plunge. Alisa Brady, Fox News.