3PM ET 02/24/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 3PM ET 02/24/2026

Host: FOX News
Date: February 24, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode provides a concise roundup of major national news stories, centered on the upcoming State of the Union address, political division in Washington, a high-profile legal ruling, immigration enforcement updates, a Supreme Court decision, the passing of an entertainment figure, and a Wall Street update. The tone is brisk and fact-driven, with regular consults to Fox News correspondents and analysts on developing stories.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. State of the Union Preview & Political Context

[00:02–01:10]

• President’s Message on the Economy:

  • The president is “expected to focus on the economy” and present “the case that Republicans can best address cost of living concerns,” emphasizing signature tax cuts, like “no tax on tips, overtime, no tax on Social Security.”

    • Quote (Caroline Levitt, Spokeswoman):
      “You’re going to hear the president tout his signature tax cuts that every single Democrat in Congress voted against.” [00:13]

  • Polling Snapshot:

    • President’s approval rating is at about 44%, comparable to prior second-term presidents at midterm (Obama, Bush).
    • Economic concerns, especially mortgage rates and border security, are key topics for the public.
      • Quote (Fox News Correspondent):
        “The economy is what Americans want him to focus on according to the latest Fox News polling…” [00:26]

  • Political Tensions and Boycott:

    • Around 50 Democrats will formally boycott the speech, with alternative events such as the “People State of the Union” and “State of the Swamp.”
      • Quote (Fox News Political Analyst):
        “Around 50 Democrats formally announced they are bowing out… Dozens are attending an alternative event.” [00:57]

2. Legal Update: Charlie Kirk Case

[01:10–01:47]

• Defense Motion Denied:

  • Tyler Robinson, accused of killing Charlie Kirk, sought to remove the prosecution on grounds of a conflict of interest—specifically, that a prosecutor’s child texted about the case as an eyewitness.

    • Quote (Fox News Legal Correspondent):
      “The case was tainted by a lead prosecutor's child being at Utah Valley University September 10th when Charlie Kirk was shot…” [01:17]

  • Judge’s ruling: There’s no factual basis or appearance of impropriety enough to merit a constitutional concern, so the motion is denied.

    • Quote (Judge Tony Groff, relayed by Analyst):
      “…defendant has not established a factual basis for a finding of conflict of interest or an objective appearance of impropriety rising to a constitutional concern. His motion is…denied.” [01:36]

  • The prosecution is seeking the death penalty; other motions are still outstanding.

3. Homeland Security & Immigration Policy

[00:46 & 02:38–03:14]

• Immigration Enforcement and Protests:

  • Democrats protest “immigration enforcement crackdowns they say got out of control,” pushing for ICE reforms amid a partial DHS funding shutdown.
    • Quote (Aisha Hosny):
      “Democrats still protesting immigration enforcement crackdowns they say got out of control, pushing for ICE reforms…” [00:46]

• Detention Center in New Hampshire Cancelled:

  • DHS drops plan to open a new immigration detention center in Merrimack, NH, after widespread protests.
    • NH Governor Kelly Ayotte says she was unaware of the proposal when it surfaced in January—a political issue as she seeks reelection.
      • Quote (Fox News Reporter):
        “The proposal had sparked large protests… It has created a political challenge for Ayotte, who is seeking reelection in November and denied having knowledge of the facility in January.” [02:44]

4. Supreme Court: Postal Service Lawsuit Blocked

[03:14–04:03]

• Landmark Ruling:
  • In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court rules that the Postal Service is shielded from lawsuits, even for alleged intentional non-delivery of mail.
    • Justice Clarence Thomas (majority): Federal law covers intentional acts.
    • Justice Sonia Sotomayor (dissent): Lawsuit protection shouldn’t cover malicious non-delivery.
    • Quote (Anchor paraphrasing Thomas & Sotomayor):
      “…the federal law shielding the Postal Service from missing or lost mail also includes the intentional non delivery of mail…” [03:14]

5. Entertainment News: Robert Carradine’s Passing

[04:03–04:17]

• The actor Robert Carradine, known for “Revenge of the Nerds” and “Lizzie McGuire,” died after longtime struggles with bipolar disorder; reported as suicide.
  • Family statement: They hope public awareness grows around the stigma of mental illness.
    • Quote (Family Statement):
      “We hope his journey can shine a light and encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness.” [04:03]

6. Financial Markets Update

[04:17–04:34]

• Wall Street rally: Dow up 369 points, Nasdaq up 225, recovering from losses tied to AI market fears.
  • Quote (Lisa Brady):
    “A rally continues getting back some of yesterday's losses that were blamed in part on AI related fears.” [04:17]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You’re going to hear the president tout his signature tax cuts that every single Democrat in Congress voted against.”
  — Caroline Levitt, [00:13]

• “The economy is what Americans want him to focus on according to the latest Fox News polling...”
  — Fox News Correspondent, [00:26]

• “Around 50 Democrats formally announced they are bowing out of tonight’s speech. Dozens are attending an alternative event.”
  — Fox News Political Analyst, [00:57]

• “…defendant has not established a factual basis…His motion is respectfully denied.”
  — Judge Tony Groff via Legal Analyst, [01:36]

• “We hope his journey can shine a light and encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness.”
  — Carradine family statement, [04:03]

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Segment Timestamps

• 00:02 — State of the Union Preview & President's Economic Agenda
• 00:26 — Public Opinion on Focus & Approval Ratings
• 00:46 — Democratic Protests on Immigration Enforcement
• 00:57 — Boycotts and Alternative Democratic Events
• 01:10 — Update on Charlie Kirk Murder Case
• 01:36 — Judge’s Ruling on Conflict of Interest Motion
• 02:38 — DHS Cancels New Hampshire Detention Center Plan
• 03:14 — Supreme Court Blocks Postal Service Lawsuit
• 04:03 — Actor Robert Carradine Passes Away
• 04:17 — Wall Street Market Update

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Summary prepared for listeners seeking to catch up on the hour’s most urgent and high-profile news, with context, analysis, and key quotes provided for depth and clarity.

Transcript

[Fox News Anchor]

The president has a message for Americans on Lisa Brady, FOX News. He's expected to focus on the economy during tonight's State of the Union address, making the case that Republicans can best address cost of living concerns. You're going to hear the president tout his signature tax cuts that every single Democrat in Congress voted against. No tax on tips, overtime, no tax on Social Security. Spokeswoman Caroline Levitt also pointing to lower mortgage rates.

[Fox News Correspondent]

The economy is what Americans want him to focus on according to the latest Fox News polling, which also has him sitting at about 44% approval rating. That is also about where other second term presidents like Obama and Bush were at in their midterm points too. Trump also expected to highlight border security, one of his strongest polling issues.

[Fox News Anchor]

Fox's Aisha Hosny at the White House. Democrats still protesting immigration enforcement crackdowns they say got out of control pushing for ICE reforms as a partial shutdown of homeland security funding continues.

[Fox News Political Analyst]

Around 50 Democrats formally announced they are bowing out of tonight's speech. Dozens are attending all alternative event. One of the Democrats protests is called the People State of the Union. Another is titled State of the Swamp.

[Fox News Anchor]

Fox's Chad Pergram on Capitol Hill, a key ruling today in the case against Charlie Kirk's suspected killer.

[Fox News Legal Correspondent]

Accused killer Tyler Robinson's defense team. One of the prosecution dumped from the Charlie Kirk murder case that the case was tainted by a lead prosecutor's child being at Utah Valley University September 10th when Charlie Kirk was shot that the child texted the parent about what was happening with the judge Tony Groff ruling

[Fox News Political Analyst]

because defendant has not established a factual basis for a finding of conflict of interest or an objective appearance of impropriety rising to a constitutional concern. His motion is respectfully denied.

[Fox News Legal Correspondent]

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Tyler Robinson with other motions in the case still outstanding.

[Fox News Anchor]

Fox's Jeff Manasso. America is listening to FOX News.

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[Fox News Anchor]

FOX the Department of Homeland Security scrapping the plan to open a new detention center in New Hampshire.

[Fox News Reporter]

New Hampshire Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte says DHS no longer has plans for an immigration detention center in Merrimack. The Trump administration had planned to retrofit a warehouse into a processing center where those taken into custody during ICE actions would be held before later being deported. The proposal had sparked large protests around the state and local officials had pushed back on the idea. It has created a political challenge for Ayotte, who is seeking re election in November and denied having knowledge of the facility in January.

[Fox News Anchor]

Fox's Tanya J. Powers you can't sue the U.S. postal Service. That bottom line from the U.S. supreme Court in a divided ruling against a black Texas landlord who says her mail was intentionally withheld for two years. Also claiming that racial prejudice played a role In a 5, 4 decision, Justice Clarence Thomas writes for a conservative major that the federal law shielding the Postal Service from missing or lost mail also includes the intentional non delivery of mail. Justice Sonia Sotomayor writing in dissent that lawsuit protection does not extend to not delivering mail for malicious reasons. Actor Robert Carradine has died, part of an acting family and best known for Revenge of the Nerds movies and the Lizzie McGuire series and movie. His family says he died after a valiant struggle with bipolar disorder, several media

[Fox News Entertainment Correspondent]

outlets reporting that he took his own life. In a statement to Deadline, his family wrote in part referencing his battle with the disorder, we hope his journey can shine a light and encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness.

[Fox News Anchor]

Fox's Michelle Paulino Robert Carradine was 71 an hour to the close. On Wall Street, a rally continues getting back some of yesterday's losses that were blamed in part on AI related fears. Right now the Dow is up 369 points, the NASDAQ up to 25 and Lisa Brady.

[Fox News Reporter]

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

[Fox News Legal Correspondent]

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