5AM ET 01/23/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: 5AM ET 01/23/2026 Newscast

Host: Ted Lindner (Fox News Podcasts)
Air Date: January 23, 2026

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Overview

This early-morning newscast delivers concise, fast-moving coverage of the nation’s top stories, with a focus on the approaching winter storm, impending government shutdown, Vice President J.D. Vance’s trip to Minnesota, a high-profile courtroom case, developments in Gaza and Iran, and major layoffs at Meta. Most coverage is straightforward, sticking to Fox News’ classic urgent, no-frills style, featuring direct commentary from political figures and updates on global crises.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nationwide Winter Storm Warning

• Major Storm to Begin Friday Night:
  • [00:03] Ted Lindner sets the tone: “Winter storm will spread snow, ice and cold temperatures across the country set to begin Friday night.”
  • [00:14] Louisiana State Climatologist Jay Grimes warns of a “triple whammy”:
    • “Ice for the northern parishes followed by snow, followed by that bitter cold arctic air.” (Jay Grimes, 00:14)
• Scope and Impact:
  • [00:25] More than 200 million Americans across two dozen states are projected to be affected, with heavy snow, sleet, and dangerous ice.
• Airline Disruptions:
  • [00:35] Major airlines (Delta, American, United, Southwest, JetBlue) are already cancelling flights or waiving change fees in anticipation.
  • [00:40] “Storm could trigger thousands of cancellations through Monday. Travelers being urged to monitor flights closely as disruptions ripple nationwide.” (Ted Lindner, 00:40)

2. Government Shutdown Threat and House Spending Bills

• [00:47] Congress races to avoid a government shutdown by the end of January.
• [01:01] House Speaker Mike Johnson:
  • "The House has now passed all 12 appropriations bills and the Senate will soon do the same and the president is going to sign them into law. What a concept, gentlemen.” (Mike Johnson, 00:52)
• The Senate is expected to review the bills ahead of the January 30 deadline.

3. VP J.D. Vance in Minnesota: ICE Operations and Local Law Enforcement

• [01:09] Vice President Vance visits Minneapolis, urges local cooperation with ICE to address violence and unrest.
• [01:15] Paraphrased remarks:
  • “The chaos would go way down in the Twin Cities, that we're not seeing the level of violence over ICE action in other states like we're seeing in Minnesota.” (Reporter, 01:15)
  • “Maybe the problem is unique to Minneapolis and we believe that it is. And it's a lack of cooperation between state and local law enforcement and federal law enforcement.” (Local official, 01:29)
• [01:38] Vice President Vance says the Insurrection Act is not needed yet, but warns this could change if the situation escalates.
• [01:43] Minnesota Governor Tim Walz criticizes ICE:
  • “Its campaign of retribution has got to stop.” (Gov. Walz, 01:53, via reporter Jeff Manasso)

4. High-Profile Court Case: UnitedHealthcare CEO’s Death

• [02:32] Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appears in a New York courtroom.
• [02:41] Legal wrangling continues over what evidence can be used, with a focus on his arrest and police procedures in Pennsylvania.
• [03:10] Defense seeks to exclude certain charges from the federal death penalty prosecution.
• [03:13] “Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all counts.” (Grinnell Scott, 03:13)

5. Middle East: Gaza Crisis and Iranian Crackdown

• [03:20] Desperate conditions in Gaza:
  • “Some desperate Palestinians reportedly resorting to burning plastic in order to make fires to stay warm.” (Ted Lindner, 03:20)
• [03:26] Verification of these reports is still pending.
• [03:31] At Davos, President Trump claims: “Record levels of humanitarian aid has entered Gaza since October, the start of the US brokered ceasefire deal.” (Paraphrased, 03:32)
• [03:38] Iran:
  • Death toll from government crackdown on protests reaches at least 5,002 (per U.S.-based activist groups).
  • Ongoing internet blackout entering its second week.

6. Tech Industry: Meta Layoffs

• [04:00] Meta (Facebook’s parent company) to lay off hundreds at its Reality Labs division, with reductions possibly reaching 1,500 (about 10% of division staff), per New York Times.
• [04:25] Layoffs anticipated in California and Washington state as Meta shifts focus toward artificial intelligence.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jay Grimes on Louisiana Storm Outlook:

  • “So it’s a triple whammy. Ice for the northern parishes followed by snow, followed by that bitter cold arctic air.” (00:14)

• Speaker Mike Johnson on Appropriations:

  • “What a concept, gentlemen.” (00:52)

• Reporter quoting Vice President J.D. Vance:

  • “The chaos would go way down in the Twin Cities, ... we're not seeing the level of violence over ICE action in other states like we're seeing in Minnesota.” (01:15)

• Governor Tim Walz (via Jeff Manaso):

  • “Its campaign of retribution has got to stop.” (01:53)

• On Gaza’s Severe Hardship:

  • “Some desperate Palestinians reportedly resorting to burning plastic in order to make fires to stay warm.” (03:20)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Winter Storm Alert: 00:03 – 00:40
• Government Funding/Shut Down: 00:47 – 01:09
• VP Vance ICE Visit: 01:09 – 01:55
• UnitedHealthcare CEO Case: 02:32 – 03:13
• Gaza & Iran Updates: 03:20 – 04:00
• Meta Layoffs: 04:00 – 04:25

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This summary captures the essential news items and direct quotes from the Fox News Hourly Update, providing a fast-paced window into U.S. and global headline events for January 23, 2026.

Transcript

[A]

Preparing for the winter storm. I'm Ted Lindner, FOX News. Winter storm will spread snow, ice and cold temperatures across the country set to begin Friday night.

[B]

Louisiana state climatologist Jay Grimes says his state will get hit hard.

[C]

So it's a triple whammy. Ice for the northern parishes followed by snow, followed by that bitter cold arctic air.

[B]

More than 200 million people across the.

[A]

US going to be impacted by the storm. Heavy snow, sleet and dangerous ice. Forecasts across two dozen states. And airlines including Delta, American, United, Southwest.

[B]

And JetBlue already canceling flights and offering.

[A]

Fee free changes as forecasters warn the.

[B]

Storm could trigger thousands of cancellations through Monday. Travelers being urged to monitor flights closely as disruptions ripple nationwide.

[A]

Government shutdown could kick in at the end of the month. On Thursday, the House passed four spending bills aimed at averting it.

[D]

The House has now passed all 12 appropriations bills and the Senate will soon do the same and the president is going to sign them into law. What a concept, gentlemen.

[A]

House Speaker Mike Johnson. The bills total 1.5. The Senate expected to take up the.

[B]

Bills next week ahead of a January 30 deadline.

[A]

And Vice President J.D. vance in a trip to Minnesota Thursday.

[B]

Calling for more local help for ICE operations.

[E]

The vice president's message in Minneapolis to local and state officials is to work with ice, saying the chaos would go way down in the Twin Cities, that we're not seeing the level of violence over ICE action in other states like we're seeing in Minnesota.

[F]

Maybe the problem is unique to Minneapolis and we believe that it is. And it's a lack of cooperation between state and local law enforcement and federal law enforcement.

[E]

Vice President Vance saying right now that he does not believe the Insurrection act is needed. But if things get worse, that would be a real problem. Governor Tim Walz next Thursday continued bashing ice, saying, quote, its campaign of retribution has got to stop. Jeff Manasso, FOX News.

[A]

America's listening to FOX News.

[G]

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[A]

The man accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last year back in.

[B]

A New York City courtroom. Fox's Grinnell Scott with more Luigi Mangione.

[H]

And his attorneys before his coming trial are still involved in hearings to determine what evidence can be introduced to a jury. Much of what is expected today will center around Mangione's arrest in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and that city's police policies on how the defendant's property was handled. Mangione's lawyers this federal trial are hoping to exclude particular charges, stalking and assault for not technically being crimes of violence that could affect prosecutors pursuit of the death penalty. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all counts in New York City. Grnal Scott, Fox News About a thousand.

[A]

Miles from Iran in Gaza, some desperate Palestinians reportedly resorting to burning plastic in order to make fires to stay warm.

[B]

In the city of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza. It's not clear if that report's been verified.

[A]

At the World Economic Forum in Davos.

[B]

This week, President Trump said that record levels of humanitarian aid has entered Gaza since October, the start of the US brokered ceasefire deal. The number of dead from Iran's bloody crackdown on nationwide protests reached at least 5,002 people killed as of Friday, according to activists warning many more still were feared dead. As the Internet blackout in the country is now into its second week, the U S based human rights activist news agency offering up that death toll.

[A]

And hundreds of Meta employees are being laid off at the company's Reality Labs.

[B]

Division in California's tech Job cuts accelerate Meta shifting its business model towards AI. Meta is acknowledging the layoffs will be in the hundreds, but the New York Times says likely It'll be around 1500 people, representing about 10% of the division's workforce. Other Meta layoffs are also expected in Washington state, Meta, the parent company of Facebook.

[A]

I'm Ted Lindner. This is Fox News.

[I]

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

[J]

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.