5AM ET 02/23/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: 5AM ET 02/23/2026 Newscast

Episode Overview
This concise newscast delivers rapid-fire updates on major events impacting the U.S. and the world. Key themes include a crippling winter storm in the Northeast, a deadly security breach at Mar-a-Lago, significant news from Mexico's cartel wars, international diplomatic developments, economic highlights, and recent seismic and political events.

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Major Winter Storm Slams Northeast (00:02–01:04)

• Storm Details

  • The northeast and mid-Atlantic are being pummeled by a powerful nor’easter.
  • Katie Byrne reports from New Jersey:
    • “Snow is still coming down at a fast clip. We've got it coming down at a sideways slant most of the time and it's been this way for hours.” (00:14)
    • Shoreline totals: ~6 to 7 inches; possibly higher inland.
    • Widespread wind-driven outages: “Now we're at 80,000 customers across New Jersey without power…impacting people along the coast.” (00:14)
  • Brandi Campbell in Boston outlines the relentless winter:
    • “Over 40 inches so far and a possible two additional feet of snow.” (00:56)

• Emergency Conditions

  • New York City: Non-essential travel is banned due to severe weather. (01:04)

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Security Incident at Mar-a-Lago (01:04–01:56)

• Deadly Breach
  • Secret Service shot and killed 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin of North Carolina after breaching President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. (01:04)
• White House Response
  • Press Secretary Caroline Levitt on X (formerly Twitter):
    • “In the middle of the night while most Americans were asleep, the United States Secret Service acted quickly and decisively to neutralize a crazy person armed with a gun and a gas canister who intruded President Trump's home. Federal law enforcement are working 24, 7 to keep our country safe and protect all Americans. It's shameful and reckless that Democrats have chosen to shut down their department.” (01:19)

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Netflix's Economic Impact (02:00–02:31)

• Company Contributions
  • Over the past decade, Netflix contributed $225 billion to the U.S. economy.
  • 150,000+ jobs created across all 50 states, including cast/crew, carpenters, electricians, and small businesses.
• Memorable Line
  • “Netflix investing in America.” – Marianne Rafferty (02:00)

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Major Cartel Leader Killed in Mexico (02:31–03:02)

• “El Mincho” Raid
  • The head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel killed by Mexican military in western Mexico.
  • Violent cartel reprisals followed, including arson attacks and airport closures (e.g., Puerto Vallarta).
    • “Cartel members set fire to vehicles and buildings while trying to stop the operation.” – Brandi Campbell (02:39)
  • U.S. Embassy advises Americans in affected areas to shelter in place.
• U.S. Involvement
  • White House confirms U.S. government provided intelligence support. (03:02)

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Iran Nuclear Talks and U.S. Political Response (03:02–03:42)

• Upcoming Talks
  • Next round set for Thursday in Geneva. The Trump administration is pressuring Iran for a deal.
• Democratic Criticism
  • Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro demands clarity on military plans:
    • “You will find no sympathy from me when it comes to the Iranians. But… what I want to see from our commander in chief is clear purpose, clear intentions, clear directives, and I think he owes the American people that answer before engaging in military action.” (03:27)

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Political Updates (03:42–04:00)

• State of the Union
  • President Trump to address the nation on Tuesday 9pm ET. Topics: border policy, economic growth, new tariffs.
  • Democratic response by Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger.

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Other Noteworthy Events (04:00–04:28)

• Alaska Earthquake:
  • Magnitude 6.3 quake in the Aleutian Islands; no tsunami or serious damage.
• North Korea:
  • Kim Jong Un reelected to head the ruling Workers Party.

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Notable Quotes

• “Snow is still coming down at a fast clip... we've got it coming down at a sideways slant.”
  – Katie Byrne (00:14)

• “It's just a relentless winter here in Boston with over 40 inches so far and a possible two additional feet of snow.”
  – Brandi Campbell (00:56)

• “In the middle of the night while most Americans were asleep, the United States Secret Service acted quickly and decisively to neutralize a crazy person armed with a gun and a gas canister who intruded President Trump's home.”
  – Caroline Levitt, via X (01:19)

• “Netflix investing in America.”
  – Marianne Rafferty (02:00)

• “You will find no sympathy from me when it comes to the Iranians. But… what I want to see from our commander in chief is clear purpose, clear intentions, clear directives…”
  – Josh Shapiro (03:27)

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Key Timestamps

• 00:02 – Winter storm coverage begins
• 01:04 – Mar-a-Lago breach and Secret Service response
• 02:00 – Netflix’s economic impact segment
• 02:31 – Cartel leader “El Mincho” killed in Mexico; U.S. Embassy warning
• 03:02 – U.S.-Iran nuclear talks preview; Governor Shapiro's remarks
• 03:42 – State of the Union preview
• 04:00 – Alaska earthquake and North Korea’s leadership update

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This Fox News Hourly Update condenses urgent national and global developments with crisp field reporting and pointed political commentary, reflecting the dynamic, direct tone characteristic of Fox’s newscasts.

Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

Blizzard impacts. I'm Debra Valentine, Fox News. A powerful nor' easter is pounding the mid Atlantic and northeastern states. Fox Weather's Katie Byrne reports from Long Branch, New Jersey.

[Katie Byrne / Ainsley Earhart]

Snow is still coming down at a fast clip. We've got it coming down at a sideways slant most of the time and it's been this way for hours. As far as snowfall totals here right along the water, we're still looking at about 6 to 7 inches. But if you're a bit more inland, those numbers could be higher because you're dealing with less of the wind that we've got right on the water here. We've been seeing the wind contribute to outages across the state. Now we're at 80,000 customers across New Jersey without power. We've got strong winds impacting people along the coast where we're seeing the most outages in those coastal communities.

[Debra Valentine]

Fox Weather's Brandi Campbell reports from Boston, Massachusetts.

[Brandi Campbell]

It's just a relentless winter here in Boston with over 40 inches so far and a possible two additional feet of snow.

[Debra Valentine]

New York City is under a travel ban, meaning non essential travel is prohibited. The Secret Service shot and killed an armed man, 21 year old Austin Tucker Martin of North Carolina after he breached the perimeter of President Trump's Mar a Lago estate.

[Caroline Levitt]

We have not heard any reaction from President Trump about the killing of this 21 year old Austin Martin after breaching the comp out of Mar a Lago. Now one person we did hear from is President Trump's press secretary Caroline Levittu took to X to post the following quote in the middle of the night while most Americans were asleep, the United States Secret Service acted quickly and decisively to neutralize a crazy person armed with a gun and a gas canister who intruded President Trump's home. Federal law enforcement are working 24, 7 to keep our country safe and protect all Americans. It's shameful and reckless that Democrats have chosen to shut down their department.

[Debra Valentine]

America is listening to Fox News.

[Marianne Rafferty]

Lets talk about Netflix, but I don't want to talk about their shows and movies. I want to talk about the economic impact Netflix makes in this country. Over the past 10 years, Netflix has contributed $225 billion to the US economy. They brought productions to all 50 states and hired over 150,000Americans as cast and crew, carpenters, electricians, small businesses, real American jobs. Netflix investing in America.

[Debra Valentine]

Mexican forces killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel, one of Mexico's most powerful, Fox's Marianne Rafferty.

[Brandi Campbell]

Mexico is on high alert after its army killed the leader of one of the world's most powerful drug cartels. The man, known as El Mincho, died after being captured in a military raid in western Mexico. Officials say cartel members set fire to vehicles and buildings while trying to stop the operation. The US Embassy in Mexico is urging all Americans in affected areas to shelter in place. And some airports, including Puerto Vallarta, are closed.

[Debra Valentine]

White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt confirming in a post on Sunday night that the U.S. government offered intelligence for the operation. The U.S. and Iran will hold their next round of nuclear talks Thursday in Geneva. The Trump administration has been pressuring Iran to agree to a nuclear weapons deal. Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro demands that the administration give the American people a clear explanation of plans if they were to strike.

[Josh Shapiro]

You will find no sympathy from me when it comes to the Iranians. But what what I want to see from our commander in chief is clear purpose, clear intentions, clear directives, and I think he owes the American people that answer before engaging in military action.

[Debra Valentine]

That sound courtesy of ABC's this Week. President Trump has said that he has given the Iranians a 10 to 15 day window to come to a nuclear agreement. President Trump will deliver his State of the Union address on Tuesday beginning at 9pm Eastern time. He's expected to focus on border policy, economic growth and his newly imposed tariffs. Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger is scheduled to deliver the Democratic response following his remarks. Alaska experienced a magnitude 6.3 earthquake Sunday night. The geological survey says it hit Alaska's Aleutian Islands. No tsunami was generated and no major damage reported. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been reelected to the top post of the ruling Workers Party. I'm Debra Valentine. This is Fox News.

[Katie Byrne / Ainsley Earhart]

This is Ainsley Earhart.

[Debra Valentine]

Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of

[Marianne Rafferty]

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.