5AM ET 01/05/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 5AM ET 01/05/2026 Newscast

Podcast: Fox News Hourly Update
Host: Daria Albinger
Date: January 5, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers concise coverage of key news events as of the early morning of January 5, 2026. Major topics include the high-profile arraignment of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in New York, domestic reactions to US military action in Venezuela, community responses in Florida, NFL postseason updates, a major fraud investigation in Minnesota, flood threats in Northern California, and a vigil in the Swiss Alps for victims of a tragic fire.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Arraignment of Nicolas Maduro in New York (00:02–00:50)

• Event: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro faces arraignment in New York after being ousted by US military action.
• Political Reactions:
  • New York City’s Political Leaders:
    • Mayor Zorram Doni, a Democratic Socialist, personally called President Trump to criticize the strikes in Venezuela.
    • New York State Attorney General Letitia James highlighted the pain inflicted by Maduro's dictatorship while voicing concerns about constitutional overreach.
    • Notable Quote (Letitia James on X):

      "Maduro was a brutal dictator who caused pain and suffering, while adding that she also believes in the Constitution and as such, quote, I am deeply concerned with the administration's continued abuse of the rule of law."
      — CB Cotton reporting, 00:27

2. Venezuelan American Community Reaction in Florida (00:50–01:35)

• Celebrations in Doral, Florida:
  • Hundreds of Venezuelan Americans gather to celebrate the regime's fall in a calm but expectant atmosphere.
  • Viewpoint: Many in the community see recent events as liberation rather than an act of war.
  • Upcoming Event: Preparations for a rally titled "Venezuela Estapa Sando"—translated as "Venezuela, it's happening."
  • Local Measures: Authorities set perimeters, and Venezuelan opposition groups amplify rally information via social media.
  • Notable Quote:

    "Some Venezuelans I've spoken to tell me they don't perceive this to be an act of war, but instead an act of freedom."
    — Andrea Linares reporting from Doral, 01:08

3. NFL Postseason Lineup Announced (01:35–02:00)

• AFC Playoff Teams: Denver, New England, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, Houston, Buffalo, LA Chargers
• NFC Playoff Teams: Seattle, LA Rams, Carolina, Green Bay, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia

4. Congressional Hearing on Minnesota Social Services Fraud (02:40–03:20)

• Issue: US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform investigates fraud in Minnesota’s social services, with hearings scheduled for Wednesday.
• Participants: Minnesota’s governor, attorney general, and other state officials are to testify regarding possible billions in fraudulent activity.
• State Response: Governor’s spokesperson welcomes oversight but critiques the committee’s history of "circus hearings."
• Notable Quote:

  "This committee has a track record of holding circus hearings that have nothing to do with the issue at hand."
  — Governor’s spokesperson via Jeff Manasso, 03:08

5. Flood Threats and Record Tides in Marin County, California (03:20–04:14)

• Flood Preparation: Local businesses, like SF Fitness, reinforce with tarps and sandbags. Despite a sandbag wall breach, damage remains contained.
• Community Effort: Employees and gym members volunteer to protect the facility.
• King Tides: Multiple localities experience highest tide levels since 1998, with some setting new records.
• Ongoing Conditions: Rain expected to persist through the day.
• Notable Quotes:

  • "We had the sandbag wall break yesterday and that got watered into the lobby. So we're gonna have to refortify that, get some more sandbags. You know, we have a lot of great employees, employees that came in and worked on their day off, members that came in, volunteered. So we got a lot of help, a lot of great people."
    — Ainsley Earhart (SF Fitness), 03:36

6. Vigil in Switzerland for Fire Victims (04:14–04:36)

• Event: Hundreds hold a silent march in Krans-Montana, Switzerland, to honor the 40 victims of a bar fire on New Year’s Eve.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Letitia James on Rule of Law:

  "I am deeply concerned with the administration's continued abuse of the rule of law."
  — (00:27, cited by CB Cotton)

• Community Perspective in Doral, FL:

  "Some Venezuelans I've spoken to tell me they don't perceive this to be an act of war, but instead an act of freedom."
  — Andrea Linares, (01:08)

• Governor's Office Skepticism:

  "This committee has a track record of holding circus hearings that have nothing to do with the issue at hand."
  — (03:08, via Jeff Manaso)

• On Flood Response and Teamwork:

  "Employees that came in and worked on their day off, members that came in, volunteered. So we got a lot of help, a lot of great people."
  — Ainsley Earhart, (03:44)

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Segment Timestamps

• Maduro Arraignment: 00:02–00:50
• Florida Celebrations: 00:50–01:35
• NFL Playoffs: 01:35–02:00
• Minnesota Fraud Investigation: 02:40–03:20
• Marin County Floods: 03:20–04:14
• Swiss Vigil: 04:14–04:36

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This summary provides a structured overview of all significant news topics covered in the 5AM Fox News Hourly Update for January 5, 2026, capturing the voices and tones of the original speakers for a comprehensive and accessible recap.

Transcript

[Daria Albinger]

His day in court. I'm Daria Albinger. Fox News Arraignment in New York City today for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

[CB Cotton]

Support for the US Military action that toppled the Maduro regime has largely fallen along party lines. And New York Democrats certainly haven't shied away from saying how they feel. We know New York City Democratic Socialist Mayor Zorram Doni said he directly called President Trump to criticize the Venezuelan strikes. Well, now one of his fellow Democrats is seeing a similar tune New York State Attorney General Letitia James wrote on X yesterday. She wrote that Maduro was a brutal dictator who caused pain and suffering, while adding that she also believes in the Constitution and as such, quote, I am deeply concerned with the administration's continued abuse of the rule of law.

[Daria Albinger]

That's fox's CB Cotton in New York City. In Florida, Venezuelan Americans celebrate.

[Andrea Linares]

We had hundreds and hundreds of people gathered here celebrating this moment. However, everything right now is still quite calm in the area. Some Venezuelans I've spoken to tell me they don't perceive this to be an act of war, but instead an act of freedom. Right now, preps are still underway because we do expect people to gather here for a rally. That rally being called Venezuela Estapa Sando, which means Venezuela. It's happening. Local authorities have blocked off the streets and they're setting up a perimeter as Venezuelan opposition groups prepare for that rally. They've been sending out a flyer on social media to spread the news about this event.

[Daria Albinger]

Andrea Linares in Doral, Florida, the NFL postseason set in the afc, Denver, New England, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, Houston, Buffalo and the LA Chargers get playoff berths in the nfc. Seattle, the LA Rams, Carolina, Green Bay, Chicago, San Francisco and Philadelphia will all move ahead. America's listening to Fox News.

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[Daria Albinger]

Congress is taking up the growing fraud crisis in Minnesota.

[Jeff Manasso]

The U.S. house Committee on Oversight and Government Reform holding hearings on fraud in Minnesota. The first hearing is this Wednesday and includes Minnesota state officials who sounded the alarm on and investigated fraud in Minnesot social services programs. Governor Tim Walls and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison have also been invited to testify before the committee on fraud that could top billions of dollars. The governor's spokesperson saying he's always happy to work with Congress, that this committee has a track record of holding circus hearings that have nothing to do with the issue at hand. Jeff Manasso, FOX News in Northern California.

[Daria Albinger]

Residents in Marin county are trying to keep a step ahead of floodwaters that have been approaching their businesses and their homes. Fox TV affiliate KTVU, Fox 2 in San Francisco's Devin Trubius War SF Fitness.

[Devin Trubius]

Surrounded their business with tarps and dozens of sandbags.

[Ainsley Earhart]

We had the sandbag wall break yesterday and that got watered into the lobby. So we're gonna have to refortify that, get some more sandbags. You know, we have a lot of great employees, employees that came in and worked on their day off, members that came in, volunteered. So we got a lot of help, a lot of great people.

[Devin Trubius]

The gym says they have just some water damage in the lo, but it's manageable. The king tides on Saturday, breaking many records set back in 1998. According to the National Weather Service, tides were supposed to be two and a half feet above high tide. Point Reyes, San Francisco, Alameda, reporting their highest tide since 1998. Redwood City, Martinez, Richmond reporting their highest on record.

[Daria Albinger]

It is expected to keep raining through today. Hundreds marched in silence yesterday in the Swiss resort town of Krans, Montana. They were there to honor the victims of a New Year's Eve bar fire which left 40 people dead. I'm Darielle Albiger. This is FOX News.

[Devin Trubius]

This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the.

[Andrea Linares]

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[Ainsley Earhart]

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