5AM ET 02/20/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update — 5AM ET 02/20/2026 Newscast

Podcast: Fox News Hourly Update
Host: Chris DiMaio (FOX News Podcasts)
Date: February 20, 2026

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Overview

This early morning newscast delivers up-to-the-minute national headlines, touching on UFO disclosure directives from President Trump, upcoming midterm election dynamics, a developing crisis in Iran, major wildfires ravaging Texas, severe weather in Indiana, and an ongoing partial government shutdown. The episode is brisk, factual, and focused on breaking news, with brief soundbites from major political figures and reporters nationwide.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. UFO Disclosure – Presidential Statements & Speculation

• President Trump has instructed his administration to release files related to UFOs and extraterrestrial life.

  • Discussion sparked by a recent podcast in which former President Obama remarked on the question of aliens.

• Trump did not confirm seeing evidence of aliens, remaining non-committal.

  President Trump: “No, I don't. I don't have an opinion on it. I never talk about it. A lot of people do. A lot of people believe it.” (00:33)

• Obama clarified he has not seen alien life nor is there a “secret underground facility” at the White House.

Timestamps:

• [00:02 – 00:51] UFO File Release; Trump and Obama on Extraterrestrials

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2. 2026 Midterm Elections & Economic Messaging

• Trump is promoting the GOP’s economic agenda as both parties ramp up campaigns ahead of the State of the Union address.
• Affordability as a campaign theme:

  President Trump: “You notice what word have you not heard over the last two weeks? Affordability. Because I've won. I've won affordability. I had to go out and talk about it.” (01:08)

• Trump's Georgia rally signals optimism and predicts an “explosion of success.”
• Uncertainty hangs over the U.S. economy amid reports of potential military action in Iran.

Timestamps:

• [00:51 – 01:39] Trump on Economy & Midterms; Potential Iran Military Action

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3. Political Landscape – Polls & Notable News

• Fox poll: Democrats lead Republicans by 6% in congressional support.
• Obituary: Eric Dane, actor from "Grey's Anatomy" and "Euphoria," has died at 53 from ALS.

Timestamps:

• [01:39 – 02:00] Poll Results and Celebrity News

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4. Texas Wildfires – Intensifying Emergency Response

• Severe wildfires continue to burn in northern Texas; more than 100 firefighters from 24+ departments have joined the fight.

• Eight Ball Fire (Armstrong Co.): Over 9,000 acres, 25% contained.

• Lavender Fire (Oldham Co.): 9,000 acres, 10% contained.

  Dion Anglin: “That's a deployment that totals about 100 personnel from the DFW area… The Eight Ball Fire in Armstrong county has scorched more than 9,000 acres and it is currently 25% contained.” (02:35)

Timestamps:

• [02:32 – 03:13] Texas Wildfires Update

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5. Severe Weather in Indiana

• Tornado watches and structural damage in Central Indiana (Bloomington) reported.

• Roof damage at a local bank; crews are repairing power lines.

• Monroe County EMA urges residents to stay off the roads for safety and to aid repair crews.

  Gabriela Mirando: “Part of the roof…is just completely toppled…We saw a couple crews repairing power lines already. And we do know that the Monroe County EMA is recommending people stay off the road.” (03:21)

Timestamps:

• [03:13 – 03:51] Severe Weather in Indiana

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6. Government Shutdown & Homeland Security

• Partial government shutdown: Department of Homeland Security is unfunded due to ICE restrictions.
• ICE and CBP are still functioning, but other security operations are affected.
• DHS Secretary Kristi Noem expresses concern:

  Kristi Noem: “Our cybersecurity is all through the Department of Homeland Security. Our Coast Guard is out doing interdictions on the water.” (04:08)

Timestamps:

• [03:51 – 04:18] Government Shutdown Details

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump (on UFOs): “No, I don't. I don't have an opinion on it. I never talk about it. A lot of people do. A lot of people believe it.” (00:33)
• President Trump (on affordability): “I've won affordability. I had to go out and talk about it.” (01:08)
• Dion Anglin (on Texas wildfires): “Eight Ball Fire in Armstrong county has scorched more than 9,000 acres and it is currently 25% contained.” (02:35)
• Gabriela Mirando (on storm damage): “Part of the roof…is just completely toppled… Monroe County EMA is recommending people stay off the road.” (03:21)
• DHS Secretary Kristi Noem (on shutdown): “Our cybersecurity is all through the Department of Homeland Security. Our Coast Guard is out doing interdictions on the water.” (04:08)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:02 — UFOs, Trump & Obama
• 00:51 — Midterms & Economic Topics
• 01:39 — Polls and Celebrity News
• 02:32 — Texas Wildfire Updates
• 03:13 — Indiana Severe Weather
• 03:51 — Government Shutdown/DHS

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Tone & Style

This newscast is fast-paced, concise, and anchored in a straight-news delivery style typical of Fox’s radio reporting. Reporters deliver facts efficiently, with minimal editorializing. Direct quotes from major figures—Trump, Obama, Kristi Noem—provide personality and momentary insight amidst the rapid switch between headlines. The mood is urgent and serious, reflecting the gravity of the domestic and global news covered in under five minutes.

Transcript

[Chris DiMaio]

Aliens of a different kind. I'm Chris DiMaio, Fox News. President Trump is directing his administration to release files on UFOs and any alien and extraterrestrial life. Fox's Jared Halpern reports.

[Jared Halpern]

Are aliens real? Former President Obama said they are in a podcast interview last week. Asked about that, President Trump responded, well,

[President Trump]

he gave classified information. He's not supposed to be doing that.

[Jared Halpern]

Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One, President Trump did not say if he has seen evidence of the existence of extraterrestrials.

[President Trump]

No, I don't. I don't have an opinion on it. I never talk about it. A lot of people do. A lot of people believe it.

[Jared Halpern]

In the podcast interview, former President Obama added he's not seen alien life and dismissed the notion of some secret underground facility at the White House. Jared Halpern, Fox News.

[Chris DiMaio]

President Trump highlighting Republicans economic agenda as both parties gear up for this year's midterms.

[Kevin Cork]

With the midterms some 257 days away and a State of the Union address just around the corner, Trump is working to sell voters on his economic policies.

[President Trump]

You notice what word have you not heard over the last two weeks? Affordability. Because I've won. I've won affordability. I had to go out and talk about it.

[Kevin Cork]

President in Georgia is predicting what he calls an explosion of success. But looming even larger over what might happen over the next few months for the American economy is what might happen over the next few days with respect to potential action in Iran with reports the president could take military action in Iran as early as this weekend.

[Chris DiMaio]

That's fox's Kevin Cork. A new Fox poll last month showed Democrats leading by a 6% margin against Republicans. When respondents were asked which party they'd support in their congressional district, Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria star Eric Dane has died. The 53 year old actor had been suffering from ALS. America's listening to FOX News.

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[Chris DiMaio]

Firefighters are battling two major wildfires in northern Texas.

[Dion Anglin]

More than two dozen North Texas fire departments are sending help to those who are battling those panhandle wildfires. That's a deployment that totals about 100 personnel from the DFW area. Now those are firefighters who are already there or they are preparing to deploy and travel there now. The Texas A and M Forest Service share the latest information. The Eight Ball Fire in Armstrong county has scorched more than 9,000 acres and it is currently 25% contained. The Lavender Fire in Oldham county also covering 9,000 acres. It is just 10% contained.

[Chris DiMaio]

Fox for Dallas Fort Worth. Dion Anglin Severe weather causing structural damage in central Indiana with several counties under a tornado watch.

[Gabriela Mirando]

We are at the Fifth Third bank along Third street here in Bloomington. I want to get right to the damage that we've been talking about. Part of the roof that is just completely toppled into where, you know, cars would usually file in and the their business. We were here at this bank. We saw a couple crews repairing power lines already. And we do know that the Monroe County EMA is recommending people stay off the road, stay home throughout the storm to really give all those crews who are out here doing repairs the most space, all the space that they need to really get the job done before the morning comes.

[Chris DiMaio]

Fox 59 Indianapolis is Gabriela Mirando. A partial government shutdown continues with the Department of Homeland Security remaining unfunded in protest of ice. ICE and CBP aren't affected, but DHS Secretary Kristi Noem says Democrats have unfunded other security functions.

[Kristi Noem]

We every day protect people in their communities, but also our cybersecurity is all through the Department of Homeland Security. Our Coast Guard is out doing interdictions on the water.

[Chris DiMaio]

Noem appearing on Fox's Hannity. Lawmakers remain split on ice restriction proposals. I'm Chris DiMaio. This is Fox News.

[Kristi Noem]

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

[Ainsley Earhart]

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