5PM ET 01/25/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 5PM ET 01/25/2026 Newscast

Date: January 25, 2026
Host: Carmen Roberts, Fox News

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Overview

This episode provides a rapid-fire overview of breaking stories in the U.S., covering the impact of a major winter storm crippling large swaths of the country, governmental and legal updates, new developments in social media advertising, a daring athletic feat, and the effects of severe weather on Hollywood’s box office.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Major Winter Storm Strikes the U.S.

Severe Weather, Power Outages, and Fatalities

• Power Outages and Extreme Cold: More than a million customers lost power in the South as the storm moved northeast, bringing snow, ice, and dangerously low temperatures.

  • Quote (Carmen Roberts, 00:02):
    “The major winter storm slamming much of the country has knocked out power to more than 1 million customers in the south is hammering the Northeast now with snow, ice and deadly cold temperatures.”

• Impact on New York City:

  • NYC Mayor Zahran Mamdani warned of historically cold temps and reported fatalities.
    • Quote (Zahran Mamdani, 00:18):
      “This storm is not only bringing snow with it, it carries temperatures colder than any sustained period the city has experienced for eight years. For those without shelter, the intense cold can be fatal. Yesterday alone, before the snow had even begun to come down, at least five New Yorkers passed away and were found outside. I send my deepest condolences to their families and loved ones.”

• Massachusetts Response:

  • Governor Maura Healey issued a plea for safety and neighborliness.
    • Quote (Maura Healey, 00:47):
      “This is not a storm to be out in, okay? So just do what you can. Hunker in, watch the paths, look after your neighbors, take care of one another and ride this one out.”
  • Some areas could receive as much as two feet of snow.

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2. Legal and Political Updates

• Federal Restraining Order:

  • A judge blocked Homeland Security from altering or destroying evidence in the fatal shooting of Alex Preddy by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis.

• Government Shutdown Looms:

  • Senator Angus King (Independent, Maine) expressed opposition to a spending bill that includes ICE funding, mirroring broad Democratic resistance and all but guaranteeing a partial government shutdown.
    • Quote (Angus King, 01:18):
      “I hate shutdowns. I'm one of the people that helped negotiate the solution to the last the end of the last shutdown. But I can't vote for a includes ICE funding under these circumstances.”
  • Segment summary (Carmen Roberts, 01:29):
    Most Democrats are expected to vote no, with the shutdown expected to begin Saturday.

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3. Tech/Business News – Meta’s Threads Introduces Ads

• Advertising on Threads:
  • Eben Brown explains Meta’s introduction of multiple ad formats on Threads (a competitor to X/Twitter), now boasting over 400 million active monthly users.
    • Quote (Eben Brown, 02:36):
      “The text microblogging service now has more than 400 million active users each month and introduced reducing ads to user feeds and scrolls is expected to become a major revenue stream for the company just as it makes money from more legacy platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Ads on Threads will have multiple formats to give advertisers a range of ways to reach audiences across the service.”

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4. Human Achievement – Alex Honnold Climbs Taipei 101

• Daring Rock Climb:
  • Angelo Bavaro describes American climber Alex Honnold’s ropeless ascent of the 1,600-foot Taipei 101 skyscraper, completed in about 90 minutes and streamed on Netflix.
    • Quote (Angelo Bavaro, 03:12):
      “Rock climber Alex Honnold ascended the Taipei 101 skyscraper Sunday. Get this, without any ropes or protective equipment. Cheers erupting from a street level crowd as he reached the top of that more than 1600 foot tower about 90 minutes after he started. That building has 101 floors. Honnold pulling himself up with his bare hands. That climb was streamed on Netflix. Honnold is known for his ropeless ascent up Yosemite National Park's El Capitan.”

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5. Entertainment – Box Office and Storm Impact

• Quietest Weekend in Hollywood:

  • The winter storm forced the closure of hundreds of theaters nationwide, causing box office receipts to plummet.

  • Amazon MGM’s Mercy topped the box office, earning just over $11 million.

    • Quote (Carmen Roberts, 03:44):
      “Hollywood had its quietest weekend of the year as major winter storms shut down hundreds of theaters nationwide. Amazon MGM's sci fi thriller Mercy topped the box office with a bit more than $11 million.”
    • Selected film line (Mercy Character, 03:56):
      “With crime rates soaring, lawmakers voted for Mercy. By acting as judge, jury and executioner, Mercy keeps our city safe.”

  • Fire and Ash's month-long run at number one ended, though it remained strong overseas.

  • Over 140 million Americans were estimated under storm warnings, drastically impacting ticket sales.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mayor Zahran Mamdani on fatal cold (00:18):
  “For those without shelter, the intense cold can be fatal. Yesterday alone, before the snow had even begun to come down, at least five New Yorkers passed away and were found outside…”

• Governor Maura Healey’s direct plea (00:47):
  “This is not a storm to be out in, okay?... Look after your neighbors, take care of one another and ride this one out.”

• Senator Angus King on government shutdown (01:18):
  “I can't vote for a includes ICE funding under these circumstances.”

• Eben Brown on Meta’s strategy (02:36):
  “Ads on Threads will have multiple formats to give advertisers a range of ways to reach audiences across the service.”

• Angelo Bavaro describes Honnold’s feat (03:12):
  “Cheers erupting from a street level crowd as he reached the top of that more than 1600 foot tower…”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:02 – Winter storm updates, power outages, fatalities
• 00:18 – NYC Mayor on deadly cold, homelessness
• 00:47 – MA Governor’s safety advice
• 01:18 – Senator Angus King on shutdown
• 02:36 – Meta Threads ad rollout
• 03:12 – Alex Honnold climbs Taipei 101
• 03:44 – Hollywood box office hit by storm
• 03:56 – Dialogue from the film “Mercy”

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Summary

This Fox News update vividly covers the nation’s struggles with a historic winter storm and its ripple effects: widespread power outages, loss of life, a shuttered entertainment industry, and looming political crises. The episode intersperses these urgent reports with stories of resilience—the dangerous governmental debates in Congress, technological business maneuvers from Meta, and the awe-inspiring ascent of Taipei 101 by Alex Honnold. The tone is brisk and urgent, with memorable quotes from key public figures anchoring each segment.

Transcript

[Carmen Roberts]

Power outages skyrocket. I'm Carmen Roberts, Fox News. The major winter storm slamming much of the country has knocked out power to more than 1 million customers in the south is hammering the Northeast now with snow, ice and deadly cold temperatures. New York City Mayor Zahran Mamdani.

[Zahran Mamdani]

Now this storm is not only bringing snow with it, it carries temperatures colder than any sustained period the city has experienced for eight years. For those without shelter, the intense cold can be fatal. Yesterday alone, before the snow had even begun to come down, at least five New Yorkers passed away and were found outside. I send my deepest condolences to their families and loved ones.

[Carmen Roberts]

In Massachusetts, the snow is falling and Governor Maura Healey sent out this message.

[Maura Healey]

This is not a storm to be out in, okay? So just do what you can. Hunker in, watch the paths, look after your neighbors, take care of one another and ride this one out.

[Carmen Roberts]

Parts of the state could get up to two feet of snow. A federal judge issues a temporary restraining order preventing Homeland Security from altering or destroying evidence related to the fatal shooting of Alex Preddy in Minneapolis by a Border Patrol agent. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche is criticizing protesters.

[Angus King]

I hate shutdowns. I'm one of the people that helped negotiate the solution to the last the end of the last shutdown. But I can't vote for a includes ICE funding under these circumstances.

[Carmen Roberts]

And that is independent Senator Angus King from Maine saying how this shutdown will cause him to vote no on the spending bill. And that is what most Democrats are feeling. And they say that they will not vote for the bill. And that pretty much cements that there will be a government shutdown, at least a partial government shutdown, all on Saturday. America's listening to Fox News.

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[Carmen Roberts]

One of Meta's social media platforms, will now direct advertisers to users threads.

[Eben Brown]

Conceived by Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg as the competitor to X. The former Twitter will now insert ads across the platform. The text microblogging service now has more than 400 million active users each month and introduced reducing ads to user feeds and scrolls is expected to become a major revenue stream for the company just as it makes money from more legacy platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Ads on Threads will have multiple formats to give advertisers a range of ways to reach audiences across the service. Eben Brown, Fox News An American rock.

[Carmen Roberts]

Climber not just a major achievement American.

[Angelo Bavaro]

Rock climber Alex Honnold ascended the Taipei 101 skyscraper Sunday. Get this, without any ropes or protective equipment. Cheers erupting from a street level crowd as he reached the top of that more than 1600 foot tower about 90 minutes after he started. That building has 101 floors. Honnold pulling himself up with his bare hands. That climb was streamed on Netflix. Honnold is known for his ropeless ascent up Yosemite National Park's El Capitan. Angelo Bavaro, FOX NEWS and Hollywood had.

[Carmen Roberts]

Its quietest weekend of the year as major winter storms shut down hundreds of theaters nationwide. Amazon MGM's sci fi thriller Mercy topped the box office with a bit more than $11 million.

[Mercy Character]

With crime rates soaring, lawmakers voted for Mercy. By acting as judge, jury and executioner, Mercy keeps our city safe.

I shouldn't be here.

[Angelo Bavaro]

I helped create the Mercy program and.

[Carmen Roberts]

The film ended Fire and Ash's month long run at number one. Yet it continues to perform strongly overseas. More than 140 million Americans were under storm warnings and that sharply cut into ticket sales for the week end. I'm Carmen Roberts.

[Mercy Character]

This is Fox News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

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

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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.