5AM ET 02/01/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update — 5AM ET 02/01/2026 Newscast

Date: February 1, 2026
Host: Chris DiMaio (FOX News)
Main Theme: This newscast covers the latest national and international news headlines, focusing on a massive winter storm in the Southeast, high-profile crime and protests, escalating US-Iran tensions, Ukraine peace negotiations, and the ongoing federal government shutdown.

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Major Winter Storm Hits the Southeast

Timestamps: 00:03 – 00:55

• Chris DiMaio opens by reporting a massive nor’easter impacting the Carolinas and Virginia, causing residents to prepare for severe winter weather.
• Unnamed Fox News Reporter elaborates:
  • A "rare winter storm" is striking the Southeast with:
    • Heavy snow
    • Hurricane-force winds
    • Brutal cold (00:12)
  • The storm is expected to intensify into a "bomb cyclone."
  • Notable local impacts:
    • North Carolina is experiencing its biggest snowfall in over 20 years—over a foot in some areas.
    • Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia also blanketed in snow.
  • Nationwide impact:
    • Over 6,000 flights delayed or canceled.
    • Approximately 190,000 people—mostly in the Southeast—without power.
    • The system is moving up the East Coast, potentially bringing inches of snow to Cape Cod.
    • More arctic air will follow the storm.
• Memorable Quote:

  “A powerful and rare winter storm is slamming the Southeast with heavy snow, hurricane force winds and brutal cold.”
  — Unnamed Fox News Reporter (00:12)

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Shooting at Mardi Gras Parade in Louisiana

Timestamps: 00:55 – 01:13

• Chris DiMaio shares breaking news:
  • Five people shot, including a six-year-old boy, at a Mardi Gras parade in Clinton, Louisiana.
  • The parade was immediately shut down.
  • Police have arrested three suspects.

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FBI Investigates Paid Protesters at Anti-ICE Demonstrations

Timestamps: 01:13 – 01:52

• Rich Edson reports on FBI inquiries:
  • The FBI is investigating "paid protest campaigns" nationwide, especially those tied to anti-ICE demonstrations.
  • Investigations include organizers, protesters, and potential funding sources—labor unions, Black Lives Matter, socialist and communist groups cited.
  • The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression warns that:
    • Government punishment of funders is only permissible in narrow cases—such as if funders intentionally direct money for illegal acts.
    • Broad investigations risk setting "a dangerous precedent that threatens organizations across the political spectrum."
• Notable Quote:

  “Broad investigations into support for political advocacy set a dangerous precedent that threatens organizations across the political spectrum.”
  — Rich Edson, quoting the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (01:44)

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US-Iran Tensions Escalate; Military Action Considered

Timestamps: 02:32 – 03:08

• Chris DiMaio: President Trump reportedly considering military action against Iran.
• Lucas Tomlinson details US military posturing:
  • The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group is positioned in the Arabian Sea, within range of Iran.
  • Involves:
    • F-18 Super Hornets
    • F-35 stealth fighters (Navy’s Charlie variant)
    • Electronic warfare jets (Growlers), capable of jamming and attacking Iranian radar/missile sites.
  • President Trump:

    “They are negotiating, so we'll see what happens. You know, the last time they negotiated, we had to take out their nuclear—didn't work.”
    — President Trump (via Lucas Tomlinson, 02:53)

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Ukraine Peace Talks: Progress and Stalemates

Timestamps: 03:08 – 03:55

• Chris DiMaio: More talks aimed at ending the Ukraine war expected.
• Jonathan Savage summarizes:
  • Recent UAE summit was "productive"—marked first multilateral talks (Russia, Ukraine, US) since the war began in 2022.
  • Main sticking point: territory.
    • Russia demands more territory.
    • Ukraine refuses to cede land its soldiers have defended.
    • Both sides unwilling to compromise.
  • President Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner attended last week's talks but won't represent the US today.
• Notable Quote:

  “The main issue standing between war and peace is territory. Russia wants more of it. Ukraine won’t give up land its soldiers shed blood to defend.”
  — Jonathan Savage (03:26)

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Federal Government Shutdown Continues

Timestamps: 03:55 – 04:13

• Chris DiMaio reports no resolution to the government shutdown.
  • Main point of contention remains immigration enforcement policies.
• Lucas Tomlinson summarizes the Republican position:
  • Focus on removing “rapists, murderers, [and] pedophiles” from the US.
  • Accuses Democrats of “blocking ICE” from enforcement.
• Notable Quote:

  “The rapists, the murderers, the pedophiles, we need to get them out of this country. And that's what ICE is trying to do. Yet the Democrats are stopping them...”
  — Lucas Tomlinson (04:01)

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Texas 18th Congressional District Special Election

Timestamps: 04:13 – 04:29

• Chris DiMaio:
  • Democrat Christian Menefee wins special election for Texas’s 18th congressional district.
  • He will serve out the remainder of late Congressman Sylvester Turner’s term.

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Summary Table of Key Segments

| Segment | Start Time | Speaker(s) | |---------------------------------------------|------------|-----------------------| | Southeast Devastated by Rare Winter Storm | 00:03 | Chris DiMaio, Reporter| | Mardi Gras Parade Shooting | 00:55 | Chris DiMaio | | FBI Anti-ICE Protester Investigation | 01:13 | Rich Edson | | US-Iran Tensions Rise | 02:32 | Lucas Tomlinson | | Ukraine Peace Negotiations | 03:08 | Jonathan Savage | | Federal Government Shutdown | 03:55 | Chris DiMaio, Tomlinson| | Texas Special Congressional Election | 04:13 | Chris DiMaio |

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Notable Quotes

• “A powerful and rare winter storm is slamming the Southeast with heavy snow, hurricane force winds and brutal cold.” — Reporter (00:12)
• “Broad investigations into support for political advocacy set a dangerous precedent that threatens organizations across the political spectrum.” — Rich Edson (01:44)
• "They are negotiating, so we'll see what happens. You know, the last time they negotiated, we had to take out their nuclear—didn't work." — President Trump (via Tomlinson, 02:53)
• “The main issue standing between war and peace is territory. Russia wants more of it. Ukraine won’t give up land its soldiers shed blood to defend.” — Jonathan Savage (03:26)
• "The rapists, the murderers, the pedophiles, we need to get them out of this country. And that's what ICE is trying to do. Yet the Democrats are stopping them..." — Lucas Tomlinson (04:01)

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Tone & Style

The reporting is concise, urgent, and direct, with a clear focus on critical and breaking news. The newscast uses plain language and direct quotes to convey the gravity of weather events, social unrest, international conflict, and domestic political crises.

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End of summary.

Transcript

[Chris DiMaio]

The south getting slammed with a massive storm. I'm Chris DiMaio, Fox News. People in the Carolinas and Virginia are bundling up and hunkering down as a nor' easter slams the region.

[Unnamed Fox News Reporter]

A powerful and rare winter storm is slamming the Southeast with heavy snow, hurricane force winds and brutal cold. It will eventually strengthen into what's known as a bomb cyclone. North Carolina is seeing its biggest snow in more than 20 years. More than a foot has fallen in some places. Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia are also now blanketed in snow. So far, more than 6,000 flights across the country have been delayed or canceled. About 190,000 people, mostly in the Southeast, are still without power. The system will move up the east coast and could bring several inches of snow to Cape Cod. More Arctic air will move in behind the system.

[Chris DiMaio]

Foxes ANITA vogel, Five people are shot, including a six year old boy at a Mardi Gras parade in Clinton, Louisiana yesterday. Police say the parade was immediately shut down. Three suspects have been taken into custody. The FBI is trying to determine whether some anti ice protesters were actually paid to start the demonstrations.

[Rich Edson]

Now, quote, the FBI is investigating paid protest campaigns throughout the country, including organizers, protesters and funding sources that drive illicit activities. There are news reports of labor unions, Black Lives Matter, socialist and communist groups, among others, organizing or encouraging anti ice protests. The foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a free speech advocacy organization, says only in narrow circumstances can the government punish funders like when they intentionally direct money to specific illegal acts. But broad investigations into support for political advocacy set a dangerous precedent that threatens organizations across the political spectrum.

[Chris DiMaio]

That's fox's Rich Edson reporting from Washington. America's listening to FOX News.

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[Chris DiMaio]

President Trump's considering taking military action against Iran.

[Lucas Tomlinson]

The Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group is on station in the Arabian Sea and within striking distance of Iran. In addition to her squadrons of F18 Super Horns, the carrier also has F35 stealth fighter jets. That's the Charlie version that the Navy flies. There are also electronic warfare jets, the growlers that can jam and destroy Iranian radar and surface to air missile sites. President Trump speaking with our own Jackie Heinrich about Iran saying, quote, they are negotiating, so we'll see what happens. You know, the last time they negotiated, we had to take out their nuclear didn't work.

[Chris DiMaio]

That's Fox's Lucas Tomlinson the White House. More talks are aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, which could take place today.

[Jonathan Savage]

Last week's meeting in the United Arab Emirates was described as productive in it was the first time there had been negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States since the war in Ukraine began in 2022. The main issue standing between war and peace is territory. Russia wants more of it. Ukraine won't give up land its soldiers shed blood to defend. Both sides say the other appears in no mood to compromise. President Trump's top envoy, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were at last week's talks. But according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, neither will represent the US Today. Jonathan Savage, FOX News.

[Chris DiMaio]

The government remains shut down. Democrats and Republicans still need to work out differences over immigration enforcement.

[Lucas Tomlinson]

The rapists, the murderers, the pedophiles, we need to get them out of this country. And that's what ICE is trying to do. Yet the Democrats are stopping them from doing it by trying to block ice.

[Chris DiMaio]

Congressman Buddy Carter Democrat Christian Menefee beat Amanda Edwards in a special election for Texas 18th congressional district. He'll serve out late Congressman Sylvester Turner's term. I'm Chris DiMaio. This is Fox News.

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