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

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.

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%.

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)

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

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.