5AM ET 02/25/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update — 5AM ET 02/25/2026 Newscast
Host: Ted Lindner, Fox News Podcasts
Date: February 25, 2026

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Episode Overview

This Fox News hourly newscast delivers highlights from President Trump’s first State of the Union address of his second term, the Democratic response, major updates on cabinet confirmations, escalating protests in Iran, a high-profile missing persons case, and a financial market recap. The episode offers a concise but comprehensive sweep of top headlines, providing listeners with updates on both domestic and global issues as the storylines unfold in real time.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. President Trump’s State of the Union Address (00:02–00:53)

• President Trump’s Approach and Claims

  • President Trump positioned America as strong, attributing this to policies signed into law during his second term, particularly the “one big beautiful bill”:
    • "We gave you no tax on tips, no tax on overtime and no tax on Social Security for our great seniors." (President Trump, quoted at 00:31 by Granal Scott)
  • Trump emphasized these wins were achieved by Republicans—"not Democrats"—and linked them to the country’s 250th anniversary, framing it as a turning point for the next generation.

• Significance

  • The address marked the longest State of the Union in US history, with a focus on economic policies and Republican legislative victories.

2. Democratic Rebuttal by Virginia Governor Abigail Spamberger (00:53–01:16)

• Governor Spamberger’s Critique
  • Criticized Trump for misinformation and lack of substantive solutions:
    • "The president did what he always does. He lied, he scapegoated and he distracted. And he offered no real solutions to our nation's pressing challenges, so many of which he is actively making worse." (Ainsley Earhart quoting Spamberger, 01:02)
  • Painted Trump as exacerbating the nation’s problems rather than addressing them.

3. Senate Hearing for Surgeon General Nominee Casey Means (01:16–01:55)

• Background & Delay

  • Hearing delayed previously due to Means’ maternity leave. Now rescheduled before the Senate HELP committee.
  • Means is a known advisor to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and advocate of the “Maha agenda.”
  • Both Means and Kennedy have faced criticism regarding their skepticism toward standard vaccine schedules.

• Context

  • The hearing marks a continuation of debates over public health policy in the Trump administration's second term.

4. Iran Student Protests and US Diplomatic Response (02:41–03:29)

• Ongoing Unrest

  • Fourth consecutive day of student-led anti-regime protests in Iran:
    • Chants include: "not Gaza, not Lebanon. I would sacrifice my life for Iran."
  • Represents the first major anti-regime protests since a crackdown earlier in the year (Trump claims “more than 32,000 people dead” during those events).

• US Position

  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio set to brief lawmakers as US military presence increases in the Middle East, with a C-17 transport landing in Tel Aviv.
  • Third round of nuclear talks between Iran and the US scheduled soon in Geneva, described as a "last ditch effort" to avoid wider conflict.

5. Netanyahu’s Warning and US-Iran Tensions (03:29–03:45)

• Escalation Risk
  • Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu issued a warning to Iran against attacking Israel if the US initiates war against Iran.

6. Search for Nancy Guthrie, Mother of Savannah Guthrie (03:45–04:18)

• Ongoing Investigation
  • Savannah Guthrie (NBC Today show) appeals to the public, indicating the family may have to accept her mother is not alive.
    • “If this is what is to be, then we will accept it, but we need to know where she is.” (Ainsley Earhart quoting Savannah Guthrie, 03:52)
  • $1 million reward offered; evidence suggests Nancy Guthrie may have been abducted from her Tucson home; masked suspect seen multiple times on security video. No arrests yet.

7. Stock Market Recap (04:27–04:37)

• Financial Update
  • S&P 500 up 0.8%, regaining losses after the previous day’s sharp drop.
  • Dow rises by 370 points; NASDAQ gains 1%.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We gave you no tax on tips, no tax on overtime and no tax on Social Security for our great seniors.”
  — President Trump (quoted by Granal Scott), 00:31

• “The president did what he always does. He lied, he scapegoated and he distracted. And he offered no real solutions to our nation's pressing challenges, so many of which he is actively making worse.”
  — Governor Abigail Spamberger (quoted by Ainsley Earhart), 01:02

• “If this is what is to be, then we will accept it, but we need to know where she is.”
  — Savannah Guthrie (quoted by Ainsley Earhart), 03:52

• On the Iran protests:
  — “Not Gaza, not Lebanon. I would sacrifice my life for Iran.” (Chant by Iranian university students, reported by Trey Yingst, 02:49)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• State of the Union recap: 00:02–00:53
• Democratic response: 00:53–01:16
• Surgeon General hearing preview: 01:16–01:55
• Iran protests & Rubio briefing: 02:41–03:29
• Netanyahu statement: 03:29–03:45
• Nancy Guthrie missing update: 03:45–04:18
• Stock market update: 04:27–04:37

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Summary

This fast-paced Fox News update primarily centers on President Trump’s historic second-term State of the Union address, its partisan aftermath, health policy debates, the volatile situation in Iran with US diplomatic and military involvements, and a high-profile missing person case. Listeners receive succinct, up-to-the-minute reporting on America’s political, international, and economic climate as the world quickly changes.

Transcript

[Ted Lindner]

The president addresses the nation. I'm Ted Lindner. Fox News. President Trump Tuesday night delivering his first State of the Union speech of his second term. Fox's Granal Scott recaps it for us.

[Granal Scott]

In the eyes of President Trump, the

State of Our Union is strong and

he says the policies of his second term have made it that way. He cited the provisions of the one big beautiful bill that he signed into law as the catalyst and highlighted what he intended it to provide.

We gave you no tax on tips, no tax on overtime and no tax on Social Security for our great seniors.

The president noted how Republicans, not Democrats, got that done and tied the success to the country's 250th anniversary, saying it's our turn to legislate and help the next generation. Gernall Scott, Fox News.

[Ted Lindner]

Virginia Governor Abigail Spamberger delivered the Democrats rebuttal to the president's State of the Union. She says that he didn't represent the best interests of the American people.

[Ainsley Earhart]

The president did what he always does. He lied, he scapegoated and he distracted. And he offered no real solutions to our nation's pressing challenges, so many of which he is actively making worse.

[Ted Lindner]

The president's speech, now the longest State of the Union in US History, says his economic agenda is making Americans wealthier. President Trump's pick to be the nation's top doctor gets her Senate hearing today. Fox's Jared Halpern Surgeon general nominee Casey Means.

[Jared Halpern]

Confirmation hearing was originally scheduled for October but was postponed after Means went into labor. She'll answer questions for the Senate Help committee today. Means served as an advisor to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. And is a strong advocate of his Maha agenda. And like Kennedy, Means has faced criticism about her criticism of vaccine schedules.

[Ted Lindner]

America's listening to Fox News.

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[Ted Lindner]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly scheduled to brief top lawmakers on Iran. It comes as student protests continue. Fox's Trey Yingst with more.

[Trey Yingst]

As the Middle east waits to see what comes next, university students in Iran are demonstrating now for a fourth day. These students taking to the streets of their campuses chanting not Gaza, not Lebanon. I would sacrifice my life for Iran. These protests are the first anti regime demonstrations since the crackdown earlier this year that according to President Trump, left more than 32,000 people dead. With an ongoing US military buildup across the region, Fox News saw a US C17 transport plane landing in Tel Aviv. A third round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States are scheduled for Thursday in Geneva, Switzerland. Some analysts view this as a last ditch effort at avoiding a large conflict that could begin with American strikes against Iran.

[Ted Lindner]

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu warning Iran against attacking his country if the US Launches a war against Iran. The reward now up to $1 million in the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC Today show host Savannah Guthrie. Fox's Jeff Bonasso over three weeks of

[Jeff Bonasso]

waiting, hoping and praying. Savannah Guthrie saying on Instagram that her mother, Nancy Guthrie, may no longer be alive.

[Ainsley Earhart]

If this is what is to be, then we will accept it, but we need to know where she is.

[Jeff Bonasso]

Guthrie announcing a $1 million family reward for information that leads to her mother's rec. It's believed the 84 year old was taken from her home in Tucson February 1, with investigators saying a masked man captured on doorbell video may have visited Guthrie's home more than once. And despite some leads, there are no suspects and no arrests. Jeff Manasso, Fox News Stocks rose on Tuesday.

[Ted Lindner]

S&P 500 climbed.8%, recovered nearly three quarters of its sharp drop from the day before. The Dow adding 370 points. NASDAQ gaining 1%. I'm Ted Lindner. This is FOX News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you. Joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of Jesus, a listening

[Jeff Bonasso]

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.