Fox News Hourly Update

Episode: 3PM ET 02/16/2026 Newscast
Date: February 16, 2026
Host: FOX News Podcasts
Main Theme: Rapid-fire roundup of major national and international news stories, focusing on breaking updates including a high-profile kidnapping, diplomatic developments, the passing of a Hollywood legend, law enforcement controversies, weather alerts, and a clarification from former President Obama about his alien comments.

Major Headlines and Discussion Points

1. President Trump Responds to Kidnapping of Savannah Guthrie’s Mother

(00:03–00:49)

• Incident: Savannah Guthrie’s elderly mother, Nancy, is believed to have been kidnapped. The case is under investigation by Arizona authorities.

• Presidential Statement: President Trump, in an exclusive to the New York Post, issues a direct threat:

  “Let her go or else.” (News Anchor, 00:03) “Unless Today Show co-host Savannah Guthrie’s mother is not released unharmed, he'll instruct the Justice Department to pursue the death penalty for those responsible.” (Chris Foster, 00:04)

• Details: If the situation results in harm, Trump vows federal prosecution and the pursuit of capital punishment for suspects, despite the crime currently falling under state jurisdiction. Arizona law permits execution for first-degree murder.

• Investigation Updates:

  “Deputies are entering the third week in their search for Guthrie while waiting to see if DNA recovered from a found glove matches any known profile.” (Eben Brown, 00:13)

2. Second Round of US-Iran Nuclear Talks Begin

(00:49–01:14)

• Diplomatic Activity: US and Iran meetings are scheduled in Geneva; Iran’s foreign minister met IAEA head Rafael Grossi prior to talks.

  “Vowing to ‘achieve a fair and equitable deal.’ He said Iran would not submit to threats.” (Ainsley Earhart, 00:55)

• Key Issues: Negotiations will revolve around the nuclear agreement, explicitly excluding Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal or regime change topics.

3. International Relations: US-Hungary Ties

(01:14–01:26)

• Secretary of State Visit: Secretary Marco Rubio visits Hungary, describes US-Hungary relations as “in a golden age.”

  “It is no mystery and should not be a mystery to anyone here how the president feels about you.” (News Anchor, 01:24)

• Political Endorsement: Both Trump and Rubio express support for Hungarian PM Viktor Orban’s re-election.

4. Death of Actor Robert Duvall

(01:26–01:48)

• Obituary: Robert Duvall, iconic actor known for The Godfather, Lonesome Dove, and “Apocalypse Now,” passes away at 95 in his Virginia home.
• Notable Quote (film reference):

  “I love the smell of nape home in the morning.” (Eben Brown, 01:42, quoting Duvall’s famous line)

• Achievements: Won 1984 Best Actor Oscar for Tender Mercies.

5. Law Enforcement Tensions in Minnesota Shooting Case

(02:15–02:50)

• Incident: FBI denies Minnesota state investigators (BCA) access to evidence in the fatal shooting of protester Alex Preddy by federal agents.
• Controversy:

  “The BCA saying it’s committed to a transparent and independent investigation, calling the FBI’s lack of cooperation unprecedented.” (Jeff Manaso, 02:26)

• Wider Context: This occurs amid ongoing disputes over state and federal cooperation in immigration-related cases in Minneapolis.

6. Severe Weather Warnings in California

(02:50–03:11)

• Forecast: Heavy rain prompts flash flood and evacuation warnings, especially in wildfire-prone areas.
• Mountain Conditions:

  “We’re going to get about potentially a foot of snow here tomorrow… Many feet will begin and that will go all the way through Wednesday, even into Thursday.” (Robert Ray, 03:00)

7. Obama Clarifies “Aliens Are Real” Comments

(03:11–04:01)

• Media Frenzy: Recent podcast remarks by former President Obama, suggesting “aliens are real,” received widespread attention.

• Clarification:

  “Statistically, historically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good there’s life out there, but the distances between solar systems are so great that the chances we’ve been visited by aliens is low. And I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us.” (News Anchor, 03:23)

• Background: References 2021 revelations about unexplained aerial phenomena and Secretary of State Rubio’s acknowledgment of unidentified objects near nuclear facilities.

8. Team USA Advances to Olympic Hockey Finals

(04:01–End)

• Update: Team USA women’s hockey defeats Sweden 5-0 in semifinals; will play for gold against either Canada or Switzerland.

  “Team USA beat Sweden 5-0 in their Olympic women’s hockey semifinal. They’ll go for gold Thursday…” (Chris Foster, 04:01)

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps and Attributions)

• “Let her go or else.”
  — News Anchor (00:03)

• “Unless Today Show co-host Savannah Guthrie’s mother is not released unharmed, he’ll instruct the Justice Department to pursue the death penalty for those responsible.”
  — Chris Foster (00:04)

• “Deputies are entering the third week in their search for Guthrie while waiting to see if DNA recovered from a found glove matches any known profile.”
  — Eben Brown (00:13)

• “Vowing to ‘achieve a fair and equitable deal.’ He said Iran would not submit to threats.”
  — Ainsley Earhart (00:55)

• “It is no mystery and should not be a mystery to anyone here how the president feels about you.”
  — News Anchor (01:24)

• “I love the smell of nape home in the morning.”
  — Eben Brown, quoting Apocalypse Now (01:42)

• “The BCA saying it’s committed to a transparent and independent investigation, calling the FBI’s lack of cooperation unprecedented.”
  — Jeff Manaso (02:26)

• “We’re going to get about potentially a foot of snow here tomorrow… Many feet will begin and that will go all the way through Wednesday, even into Thursday.”
  — Robert Ray (03:00)

• “Statistically, historically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good there’s life out there, but the distances between solar systems are so great that the chances we’ve been visited by aliens is low. And I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us.”
  — News Anchor, quoting Obama (03:23)

Additional Segments

• Brief podcast promo: Ainsley Earhart and Jeff Manaso mention a new 52-episode series, The Life of Jesus (02:00–02:15).

Tone:
Efficient, urgent, and direct, typical of top-of-the-hour newscasts, with moments of gravity (the kidnapping), legacy (Duvall’s passing), and some lighter touches (film quotes, hockey results).

Summary for Listeners:
This Fox News Hourly Update delivers a fast-paced overview of major breaking stories, from a tense kidnapping saga involving Savannah Guthrie’s mother and presidential ultimatums, to international diplomatic maneuvers on the nuclear front, the death of an American acting legend, and weather and sports updates. The episode maintains a serious, straightforward tone while dropping in memorable moments and direct quotes throughout.