5AM ET 01/31/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 5AM ET 01/31/2026 Newscast

Host: Chris DiMaio – FOX News Podcasts
Date: January 31, 2026

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Episode Overview

This newscast delivers breaking updates on the partial US government shutdown, a severe winter storm hitting the Southeast, legal shifts in a high-profile federal murder case, and the Justice Department’s latest release of Jeffrey Epstein investigation files. The episode maintains a brisk, urgent tone, updating listeners on critical national and regional headlines.

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Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Partial US Government Shutdown

• Status of Government Funding
  • The Senate passed a spending bill for most federal agencies, but only two weeks of funding have been allocated for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
  • Resulted in a partial shutdown: "About 78% of the federal government is unfunded right now." – Chad Pergram [00:16]
• Legislative Disagreements
  • Last week, the House passed a full spending bill for all departments.
  • Disagreement centered on DHS, with Senate Democrats wanting "changes with ICE" and thus shortening DHS’s funding period.
  • The Senate and House proposals are misaligned; the House must vote on the Senate’s narrower deal to resolve the shutdown.
• Uncertainty Ahead
  • The House is expected to vote on Monday; outcome remains unclear.
  • President Trump had previously agreed to the deal with Senate Democrats.
• Notable Quote:
  • "Democrats started to say we need some changes with ICE…So they want to defund the Department of Homeland Security, only fund it for a shortened period of time." – Chad Pergram [00:28]

2. Major Winter Storm in the Southeast

• Storm Forecast
  • A nor’easter is developing and may reach "bomb cyclone" intensity.
  • Expected impact: heavy snow across higher terrain in Virginia, the Carolinas, and northern Georgia.
  • Saturday is forecasted for peak snowfall.
• Risks & Concerns
  • Travel disruptions: "Some travelers are already bracing for flight cancellations and delays due to the storm." – Christina Coleman [01:22]
  • Coastal flooding is possible during high tide on Sunday morning due to strong winds.
• Notable Quote:
  • "As the storm strengthens, it will likely become a bomb cyclone." – Christina Coleman [01:11]

3. New York’s Response to ICE

• Political Action
  • Governor Kathy Hochul moves to halt local police cooperation with ICE, criticizing the agency’s conduct.
  • Quote: "ICE has gotten out of control…this stops now," and refers to ICE as a "rogue federal agency." – Chris DiMaio summarizing Hochul [01:39]

4. Federal Case: UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder

• Legal Developments
  • Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering Brian Thompson (UnitedHealthcare CEO), will not face the death penalty.
  • The judge dismissed the most severe firearm-related murder and weapons charges, taking the death penalty "off the table in this federal case in New York State." – Nate Foy [02:49]
  • The defense failed to suppress some evidence; stalking charges remain and could result in life imprisonment.
  • Mangione maintains a plea of not guilty.
• Notable Quote:
  • "The judge denied Mangione's defense team's request to suppress some of the evidence." – Nate Foy [03:07]

5. Jeffrey Epstein File Release

• DOJ Document Dump
  • Over 3 million pages, 2,000+ videos, and 180,000 images released by the DOJ regarding the Epstein investigation.
  • Most videos are described as "commercial pornography; not all videos featuring Jeffrey Epstein or shot by Jeffrey Epstein."
• Sensitive Material Withheld
  • Medical records/images potentially showing harm or abuse toward children were not released publicly.
• Names Mentioned
  • Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Steve Bannon appear; "not much context when names are released…not seen evidence that anything was criminal between those men." – Todd Blanche [03:57]
• Reaction
  • Steve Tisch (NY Giants co-owner) issued a statement expressing regret for ever associating with Epstein and denied visiting Epstein’s island.

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Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• "We're back to a Shutdown."
  — Chris DiMaio [00:03]
• "About 78% of the federal government is unfunded right now."
  — Chad Pergram [00:16]
• "Democrats started to say we need some changes with ICE…So they want to defund the Department of Homeland Security, only fund it for a shortened period of time."
  — Chad Pergram [00:28]
• "As the storm strengthens, it will likely become a bomb cyclone."
  — Christina Coleman [01:11]
• "ICE has gotten out of control…this stops now,"
  — Kathy Hochul, as reported by Chris DiMaio [01:39]
• "This means that the death penalty is now off the table in this federal case in New York State."
  — Nate Foy [02:54]
• "More than 3 million pa are now being posted to the Justice Department website. This includes more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images."
  — Todd Blanche [03:33]
• "Not much context when names are released…not seen evidence that anything was criminal between those men."
  — Todd Blanche [03:57]

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Timeline of Major Segments

• 00:03 – 00:54: Government shutdown, Congressional actions, and political divisions (Chris DiMaio, Chad Pergram)
• 01:10 – 01:39: Southeast bomb cyclone storm forecast and risks (Christina Coleman)
• 01:39 – 02:00: NY Governor Hochul’s ICE directive (Chris DiMaio)
• 02:40 – 03:18: Federal murder case update: Mangione won’t face the death penalty (Nate Foy)
• 03:18 – 04:18: Epstein files release and public figures named (Chris DiMaio, Todd Blanche)
• 04:18 – 04:35: Steve Tisch statement regarding Epstein connection (Chris DiMaio)

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Summary

This edition of the FOX News Hourly Update provides concise, fast-paced coverage of evolving political, legal, and weather-related news. The ongoing government shutdown, the threat of an intense winter storm, mounting criticism of ICE, a pivotal murder trial update, and the latest Epstein investigation document release comprise the major headlines. Urgent, direct reporting is balanced with clear attribution and concise explanation, giving listeners a thorough briefing on the morning’s most urgent stories.

Transcript

[Chris DiMaio]

We're back to a Shutdown. I'm Chris DiMaio, Fox News. The Senate passes a spending bill for most of the government, but the measure only provides two weeks of funding to the Department of Homeland Security. The clock has run out and so there's a partial government shutdown.

[Chad Pergram]

About 78% of the federal government is unfunded right now. Is the Pentagon, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Transportation? Last week, the House of Representatives passed a full spending bill for all of these departments and sent this over to the Senate. Well, Democrats started to say we need some changes with ice. So we want to defund the Department of Homeland Security, only fund it for a shortened period of time. And so what they did is they broke off the DHS funding bill. Well, at that point, the Senate and the House of Representatives were not aligned. So they have to pass in the House of Representatives what the Senate did. Otherwise the government shutdown continues.

[Chris DiMaio]

That's fox's Chad Pergram on Capitol Hill. The House is expected to vote on the package on Monday, but it's unclear how many members will support it. President Trump had agreed to the deal earlier this week with Senate Democrats. A nor Easter is sweeping across parts of the Southeast this weekend.

[Christina Coleman]

As the storm strengthens, it will likely become a bomb cyclone. Snow is expected to rapidly expand across the higher terrain of Virginia, the Carolinas, and into northern Georgia. Saturday appears to be the day when the bulk of the snowfall occurs in this region. Some travelers are already bracing for flight cancellations and delays due to the storm. There's also some concern over powerful winds during high tide Sunday morning that could increase the risk for coastal flooding in some locations.

[Chris DiMaio]

That's fox's Christina Coleman reporting. New York Governor Kathy Hochul takes steps to end the practice of local police departments assisting ICE in her state. Maintaining ICE has gotten out of control, adding that this stops now and calling ICE a rogue federal agency. America's listening to Fox News.

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[Chris DiMaio]

Luigi Mangione, who's awaiting trial on charges of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson won't face the death penalty. Fox's Nate Foy has more from New York City.

[Nate Foy]

The biggest news here is that the judge has agreed with Mangione's defense team to throw out the most serious charge against him of murder through use of a firearm and another firearms weapons charge. This means that the death penalty is now off the table in this federal case in New York State. As far as the state case doesn't do the death penalty, the other big decision, the judge denied Mangione's defense team's request to suppress some of the evidence.

[Chris DiMaio]

The judge left the stalking charges in place, which could get Mangione up to life in prison. He's pleaded not guilty. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche says that the DOJ released millions of more files from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

[Todd Blanche]

More than 3 million pa are now being posted to the Justice Department website. This includes more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images. The deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche took multiple questions on the files released today and said most of the videos are commercial pornography. Not all videos featuring Jeffrey Epstein or shot by Jeffrey Epstein. Blanche says medical records, images that may show harm toward children and any sort of physical abuse were not released publicly. Some of the names mentioned in the files dumped Bill Gates, Elon Musk and Steve Bannon. Again, not much context when names are released. Important to point that out. And we've not seen evidence that anything was criminal between those men.

[Chris DiMaio]

That's Fox's David Spunt reporting. Meanwhile, upon release of the Epstein files, which mentions his name, New York Giants co owner Steve Tisch released releases a statement in which he says he deeply regrets associating with a convicted sex offender and denying he never went to his infamous Island.

[Chris DeMaio]

I'm Chris DeMaio, this is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the.

[Christina Coleman]

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