5PM ET 01/07/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 5PM ET 01/07/2026 Newscast

Host: Lisa Brady (with contributions from Mike Tobin, Ainsley Earhardt, and various officials)
Date: January 7, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a fast-paced update on major national news stories, focusing on a controversial fatal shooting involving immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, political confrontation over federal action, updates on U.S. foreign policy regarding Venezuela, settlements in lawsuits related to chatbot-induced suicides, developments in a high-profile murder case involving celebrity victims, and ongoing struggles for fire survivors in Los Angeles. The report ends with a stock market summary.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. Minneapolis Shooting Sparks Controversy

• Event: A woman was shot and killed by an immigration enforcement agent during a vehicle incident.
• Federal Viewpoint:
  • Kristi Noem (Homeland Security Secretary):
    • “[It was] an act of domestic terrorism. An officer of ours acted quickly and defensively shot to protect himself and the people around him.” (00:17)
    • Reiterated by President Trump after reviewing video of the event.
  • Minneapolis Officials' Perspective:
    • Mayor Jacob Frey:
      • "The narrative that this was just done in self defense is a garbage narrative that is not true." (00:32)
      • Accused ICE of "sowing chaos" and demanded agents leave the city.
• Law Enforcement Context:
  • Expert Commentary:
    • “Since January of 2025 there have been 100 vehicular attacks while the agents are responding to different scenes… the feeling of the agents is it was just a matter of time before someone got hurt.” (00:47)
• State Leadership Response:
  • Gov. Tim Walz (MN): Urged protesters to remain peaceful, criticized “propaganda.” (01:08)

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2. National Security & Foreign Policy Updates

• President Trump:
  • Calling for a $1.5 trillion defense budget (up from $1 trillion). (01:12)
  • "Build a dream military for safety and security."
• Venezuela Situation:
  • Background: U.S. military captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro last weekend.
  • White House Spokesperson (Caroline Levitt):
    • "All options are always on the table for President [Trump]... the president's first option always has been diplomacy." (01:33 - statement also referenced by Ainsley Earhardt)
    • "Premature to talk about elections in Venezuela... US made a deal with interim Venezuelan authorities to sell Venezuelan oil." (01:44)

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3. Technology & Law: Chatbot-Linked Suicides

• Settlements Reached:
  • Defendants: Google and Character AI.
  • Allegation: Failing to protect children who died by suicide after interacting with chatbots.
  • Scope: Lawsuits in Florida, Colorado, Texas, New York, among others.
  • Terms: Not disclosed. (02:16)

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4. Nick Reiner Murder Case Update

• Withdrawal: Defense attorney Alan Jackson withdraws, replaced by a public defender.
  • “I'm legally and I'm ethically prohibited from explaining all the reasons why, though.” (02:40)
• Charges: Nick Reiner accused of murdering his parents, Rob Reiner and wife Michelle, last month.
• Status: Reiner held without bail; arraignment postponed. (02:44)

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5. LA Fire Disaster Recovery Challenges

• Insurance Battles:
  • Survivors allege "illegal insurance conduct" including ignoring toxic contamination findings.
  • Certified Industrial Hygienist:
    • “This is a report ... documenting lead in our home at more than 800 times the EPA limit, along with beryllium, arsenic and cyanide. Our insurance company paid for this testing and then ignored it.” (03:21)
• Financial Disputes:
  • Joy Chen (Eaton Fire Survivors Network):
    • “We are owed still tens of billions of dollars from insurance. And without that money, this recovery will not be able to be complete.” (03:36)
• Local Leadership:
  • Katherine Barger (LA County Board of Supervisors Chair):
    • Expressed commitment to working with federal officials for supplemental disaster aid. (03:49)

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6. Market Recap

• Summary:
  • Dow dropped 466 points.
  • S&P retreated from records.
  • NASDAQ up 37.
  • (03:59)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Kristi Noem on Shooting:
  • “An officer of ours acted quickly and defensively shot to protect himself and the people around him.” (00:17)
• Mayor Jacob Frey Challenging Federal Narrative:
  • "The narrative that this was just done in self defense is a garbage narrative that is not true." (00:32)
• Law Enforcement Expert on Agent Risks:
  • “…the feeling of the agents is it was just a matter of time before someone got hurt.” (00:47)
• Caroline Levitt on Venezuela:
  • “All options are always on the table for President [Trump] … the president's first option always has been diplomacy.” (01:33)
• Certified Industrial Hygienist on LA Fire Toxins:
  • “Lead in our home at more than 800 times the EPA limit, along with beryllium, arsenic and cyanide…” (03:21)
• Joy Chen on Recovery Hurdles:
  • “We are owed still tens of billions of dollars from insurance. And without that money, this recovery will not be able to be complete.” (03:36)

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Minneapolis Shooting Coverage: 00:03–01:08
• U.S. Defense & Venezuela Policy: 01:08–01:44
• Chatbot Lawsuit Settlements: 02:16
• Nick Reiner Case Update: 02:40–02:44
• LA Fire Survivor Recovery: 03:16–03:49
• Wall Street Recap: 03:59

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This episode provides a rapid-fire, balanced overview of some of America's most pressing stories on security, justice, policy, disaster recovery, and technology. Through succinct updates and pointed quotes from stakeholders, it captures the urgency and complexity of today's headlines.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

Anger and confrontations in Minneapolis on Lisa Brady, Fox News. After a woman was shot and killed as an immigration enforcement agent opened fire during what federal officials say was an attack with her vehicle on officers. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem calls it an act of domestic terrorism. An officer of ours acted quickly and defensively shot to protect himself and the people around him. President Trump echoing that after watching a video of the incident. But Minneapolis officials say the woman was driving away from officers.

[Mayor Jacob Frey]

What I can tell you is the narrative that this was just done in self defense is a garbage narrative that is not true.

[Lisa Brady]

Mayor Jacob Fry accusing ICE of sowing chaos and calling on agents to get out of the city. Fox's Mike Tobin in Minneapolis.

[Law Enforcement Expert]

Since January of 2025 there have been 100 vehicular attacks while the agents are responding to different scenes and conducting their operations. Having done ride alongs with the agents, I can tell you that the vehicular aggression is pret frequent and the feeling of the agents is it was just a matter of time before someone got hurt.

[Lisa Brady]

Minnesota's Democratic Governor Tim Walz urging protesters to remain peaceful while also criticizing what he calls propaganda. President Trump is calling for a $1.5 trillion defense budget, up from a trillion dollars just posting that it would allow the US to build a dream military for safety and security. This is the White House faces questions about foreign policy after last weekend's military capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

[Ainsley Earhardt]

All options are always on the table for President President Trump as he examines what's in the best interest of the United States. But I will just say that the president's first option always has been diplomacy.

[Lisa Brady]

White House spokesman Caroline Levitt says it's premature to talk about elections in Venezuela. She also says the US Made a deal with interim Venezuelan authorities to sell Venezuelan oil. America is listening to Fox News.

[Ainsley Earhardt]

This is Ainsley Earhart.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Thank you for joining me for the.

[Ainsley Earhardt]

52 episode podcast series the Life of Jesus.

[Mayor Jacob Frey]

A listening experience that will provide hope, comfort, understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Lisa Brady]

Multiple wrongful death lawsuits over suicides that parents linked to chatbots may be settled. Court filings show Google and artificial intelligence startup Character AI have agreed in principle to settle suits in states including Florida, Colorado, Texas and New York. No word on the terms. Lawsuits accused the companies of failing to protect children. The defense attorney for Nick Reiner withdraws from the case.

[Law Enforcement Expert]

I'm legally and I'm ethically prohibited from explaining all the reasons why, though.

[Lisa Brady]

Alan Jackson also tells reporters that Reiner is not guilty of murder. But prosecutors say they're confident a jury will convict the 32 year old in the deaths of his parents, famed director Rob Reiner, and wife Michelle, who were stabbed in their California home last month. Nick Reiner remains held without bail. The judge postponing today's arraignment to next month after the defense attorney was replaced with with a public defender. A year after deadly fires destroyed thousands of homes in la, survivors remain on a long road to recovery with some challenging insurance delays and denials.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Claire Thompson, one of several Eaton fire survivors alleging illegal insurance conduct.

[Certified Industrial Hygienist]

This is a report from a certified industrial hygienist documenting lead in our home at more than 800 times the EPA limit, along with beryllium, arsenic and cyanide. Our insurance company paid for this testing and then ignored it.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Eaton Fire Survivors Network Executive Director Joy Chen.

[Joy Chen]

We are owed still tens of billions of dollars from insurance. And without that money, this recovery will not be able to be complete.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Louisiana County Board of Supervisors Chair Katherine Barger.

[Lisa Brady]

I look forward to working with my colleagues in Washington, D.C. if you're listening, to bring supplemental disaster aid to Los.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Angeles county, calling the recovery a work in progress.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Kristine Goodwin a mixed finish on Wall Street. The Dow back under, dropping 466 points. The S and P also retreating from new records, but the NASDAQ up 37. Alisa Brady, Fox NEWS.