3PM ET 02/16/2026 Newscast

Summary

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.

Transcript

[News Anchor]

Let her go or else.

[Chris Foster]

I'm Chris Foster. FOX News President Trump says unless today's 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.

[Eben Brown]

Speaking to the New York Post, President Trump is promising to have the U.S. department of justice prosecute any suspect arrested in the supposed kidnapping of Savannah Guthrie's elderly mother, Nancy, and seek the death penalty should the 84 year old die because of the trauma. The kidnapping case is currently the jurisdiction of Arizona law and Tucson area prosecutors, though Arizona does allow for execution for conviction of first degree murder. The president's remarks come as 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, FOX NEWS.

[Chris Foster]

There'd been preliminary talks a day before a second round of US Iran nuclear negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland.

[Ainsley Earhart]

Iran's foreign minister met with the head of the iaea, Rafael Grossi in Geneva today ahead of the talks vowing to, quote, achieve a fair and equitable deal. He said Iran would not submit to threats. The talks will focus on the nuclear issue and not address Iran's massive ballistic missile stockpile or regime change.

[Chris Foster]

FOX Jennifer Griffin, Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Hungary tells Prime Minister Viktor Orban relations between our countries is in a golden age. I don't think, you know, it is any mystery and should not be a.

[News Anchor]

Mystery to anyone here how the president feels about you.

[Chris Foster]

Secretary Rubio, like President Trump has already is endorsing Orban for reelection in April. The actor Robert Duvall died.

[Michelle Paulino]

Duvall was acclaimed for his iconic performances in the Godfather films Lonesome dove and as Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore in Apocalypse Now.

[Eben Brown]

I love the smell of nape home in the morning.

[Michelle Paulino]

Duvall died Sunday night at his home in Middleburg, Virginia. He was 95.

[Chris Foster]

It's Fox's Michelle Paulino. Robert Duvall won the 1984 best actor Oscar for his role in Tender Mercies. America's listening to Fox News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

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

[Jeff Manasso]

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.

[Chris Foster]

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says it's been notified by the FBI. The state will not be getting access to evidence related to protester Alex Preddy's fatal shooting by federal agents last month.

[Jeff Manasso]

The case similar to other immigration involved shootings in Minneapolis that are under federal jurisdiction and being handled as such. The BCA saying it's committed to a transparent and independent investigation, calling the FBI's lack of cooperation unprecedented. All while state and local officials have also been accused of not cooperating during ongoing immigration action. Jeff Manasso, FOX News.

[Chris Foster]

There's heavy rain moving across Southern California. There's a flash flood warning and evacuation warnings for people where wildfires have made the ground more susceptible to rock and mudslides in the mountain. Heavy snow today.

[Robert Ray]

We're going to get about potentially a foot of snow here tomorrow. Well, that's the blockbuster. Many feet will begin and that will go all the way through Wednesday, even into Thursday. We'll just have to continue to watch.

[Chris Foster]

Fox weather's Robert Ray in South Lake Tahoe, California. Former President Obama got some attention saying during a podcast interview the other day, aliens are real. He says now to be clear, he saw no proof of that during his time in office.

[News Anchor]

He's now clarifying those comments since he says they have gotten so much attention. Obama now explains, quote, 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. Really. In 2021, Obama referenced footage of unidentified objects in the sky and admitted that the government could not explain how they moved. In a recent documentary, Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged there are repeated instances of objects operating over restricted nuclear facilities.

[Chris Foster]

Fox's rich Ed Team USA beat Sweden 50 in their Olympic women's hockey semifinal. They'll go for gold Thursday against the winner of the Canada Switzerland game. Starting this hour, I'm Chris Foster. FOX NEWS.