Fox News Hourly Update – 5PM ET 02/02/2026 Newscast

Host: Lisa Brady, FOX News Podcasts
Date: February 2, 2026

Overview

This episode delivers a fast-paced, comprehensive breakdown of current news headlines, focusing on the ongoing partial government shutdown, developments regarding homeland security and immigration, key political commentary, crucial White House announcements, a high-profile missing persons case, reactions to the Grammy Awards, Groundhog Day outcomes, and a Wall Street recap.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Partial Government Shutdown & Capitol Hill Negotiations

• Status: Day three of a partial government shutdown. The Senate's deal to end the impasse—mainly addressing homeland security funding and immigration enforcement—is awaiting a House vote.
  • [00:03] Lisa Brady: "There's a hill to climb on Capitol Hill...a Senate deal that could end it is still awaiting a House vote over homeland security funding and immigration enforcement."
• Democratic Stance: Demands for significant reforms to DHS remain a sticking point.
  • Some Democrats advocate for dismantling ICE; some Republicans also believe ICE needs reforms.
  • [00:20] Byron Donalds: "Will vote to fund DHS."
• Republican Perspective: Opposition to altering the House-passed spending package from two weeks earlier.
  • [00:40] Byron Donalds: "Once again, Senate Democrats have done nothing, proposed no solutions. They just want to go over there and complain and then they want to kick it back to the House. I'm not interested in bailing out the Senate."
• Presidential Involvement:
  • President Trump urges bipartisan support for the Senate’s proposal, which would fund most of the government through September (with short-term Homeland Security funding), pledging to negotiate further.
  • [00:49] Lisa Brady: "President Trump is urging bipartisan support for the Senate proposal though funding most of the government through September with short term funding for DHS."

2. DHS Body Cameras Announcement

• Policy Change: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announces immediate deployment of body cameras for officers in Minneapolis, with expansion nationwide.
  • Response to Democratic calls after recent fatal confrontations involving federal agents.

3. Creation of Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve

• Announcement: President Trump reveals a new strategic reserve for critical minerals, mirroring the petroleum reserve and designed to support American industry, especially auto manufacturing.
  • [01:28] President Trump: "Just as we have long had a strategic petroleum reserve and a stockpile of critical minerals for national defense, we're now creating this reserve for American industry."
  • Industry Involvement: GM CEO Mary Barra present at the announcement.

4. Missing Persons Investigation – Savannah Guthrie’s Mother

• Case Brief: The search continues for the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, missing from her Arizona home.
  • [02:15] Lisa Brady: "A search continues for the 84 year old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie reported missing from her Arizona home yesterday."
• Update from Law Enforcement:
  • Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirms the case involves a bona fide crime scene and appeals for public assistance, especially surveillance footage.
    • [02:24] Byron Donalds (paraphrasing Sheriff Nanos): "We believe now after we process that crime scene that we do in fact have a crime..."

5. President Trump vs. Grammy Host Trevor Noah

• Context: President Trump rebuts Trevor Noah’s accusation that he spent time on Jeffrey Epstein’s island, calling it "defamatory."
  • Suggests potential legal action.
  • [02:48] President Trump: "He said that I spent time on Jeffrey’s Jeffrey Epstein's island. I didn’t, I mean, he's a lightweight, this guy. He's a terrible, I thought, I think he's terrible."

6. Groundhog Day Verdicts Across States

• Punxsutawney Phil: Six more weeks of winter predicted.
  • [03:12] Byron Donalds: "It is my job this February 2nd to look to the skies and report back to you that there is a shadow here on my ground. Six more weeks of winter abound."
• Staten Island Chuck (NY): Also predicts more winter.
• Buckeye Chuck (OH): Contrasts with an early spring, citing a warm start to February.
  • Fun Fact: The tradition at Gobbler’s Knob dates back to the 1880s. Phil has predicted six more weeks of winter four out of the past six years.
  • [03:28] Ainsley Earhart: "Tens of thousands of people bundled up and gathered in the low single digit temps at Gobbler’s Knob..."

7. Financial Markets Update

• Wall Street Performances:
  • Dow up 515 points, surpassing 49,000.
  • S&P up 37 points, near a record close.
  • Nasdaq up 130 points.
  • Gold and silver prices continue to drop.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Senate’s Role in the Shutdown:
  • Byron Donalds [00:40]: “Once again, Senate Democrats have done nothing, proposed no solutions...I’m not interested in bailing out the Senate.”
• Presidential Push for Industry Reserves:
  • President Trump [01:28]: “Just as we have long had a strategic petroleum reserve...we’re now creating this reserve for American industry.”
• On Groundhog Day:
  • Byron Donalds (in Phil’s voice) [03:12]: “There is a shadow here on my ground. Six more weeks of winter abound.”
• Trump on Grammy Host Trevor Noah:
  • President Trump [02:48]: “…He said that I spent time on Jeffrey Epstein’s island. I didn’t, I mean, he's a lightweight, this guy. He's a terrible, I thought, I think he's terrible.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:03] – Capitol Hill & Government Shutdown Status
• [00:40] – Congressman Byron Donalds Criticizes Senate Democrats
• [00:49] – President Trump Urges Bipartisan Support for Senate Deal
• [01:28] – Trump Announces Strategic Minerals Reserve
• [02:15] – Missing Savannah Guthrie’s Mother; Police Update
• [02:48] – President Trump on Trevor Noah & Grammys
• [03:12] – Byron Donalds Reads Punxsutawney Phil’s Forecast
• [03:45] – Wall Street Market Recap

Additional Notes

• The episode maintains a brisk, fact-driven tone characteristic of news bulletins, with occasional pointed commentary from political figures and colorful coverage of cultural traditions like Groundhog Day.
• The show skips any extended intros or non-news content, diving straight into current events.