5PM ET 02/09/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update: 5PM ET 02/09/2026 – Newscast Summary

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode delivers a fast-paced summary of breaking national news, centering on the urgent search for Nancy Guthrie, distressing events at a Maryland high school, looming government shutdown negotiations on Capitol Hill, new developments in the Ghislaine Maxwell inquiry, and updates on the passing of Catherine O'Hara, alongside a quick financial market wrap-up.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Urgent Appeal in Nancy Guthrie Disappearance

• Family Plea: Savannah Guthrie and her family publicly appeal for any information regarding her missing 84-year-old mother Nancy, missing for nine days.
• Escalating Desperation:
  • Ainsley Earhart (00:04): “We are at an hour of desperation and we need your help.”
  • Savannah Guthrie's emotional video is shared, with the family preparing for a second deadline related to a suspected ransom.
• Ransom Note & Family Hope:
  • The family received a message over the weekend; they indicate willingness to comply with ransom demands.
  • Jonathan Hunt (00:48): “The message on Saturday appeared to be using language that sort of played into a worst case scenario…We believe our mother is hearing these prayers. We believe our mother is out there.”

2. Maryland High School Shooting

• Incident Details:
  • A student was hospitalized and another student taken into custody following a shooting at Wootton High School, Rockville, MD.
  • The school experienced a full lockdown and a reunification center was established for parents.
• Community Concerns:
  • Local Resident (01:36): "You would think that this neighborhood wouldn't have problems like this, but there’s been numerous incidents and I'm not really sure how they've been handled.”
  • Jessica Rosenthal notes prior racist vandalism and threats at the school.

3. Congress Faces Homeland Security Funding Deadline

• Imminent Partial Government Shutdown:
  • Funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is at risk, with a Friday deadline looming.
  • Podcast Host (02:21): “Here we go again. Congress only has until the end of the day on Friday to figure out some sort of a deal…Democrats are digging in on their demands that ICE either be reformed or defunded.”
• Political Gridlock:
  • Democrats offer a 10-point reform plan.
  • Senate Majority Leader John Thune (02:42): “I expect that the Trump administration, with the full backing of congressional Republicans, will continue to resist any effort to make it harder for law enforcement to detain and deport dangerous illegal aliens.”

4. Ghislaine Maxwell Deposition: Frustration in Epstein Probe

• Testimony Stonewalled:
  • Maxwell, serving time in Texas, declined to answer questions from the House panel by invoking the Fifth Amendment.
  • James Comer (03:07): "She had an opportunity today to answer questions that every American has..."
• Ongoing Investigation:
  • The committee hopes for more clarity when Bill and Hillary Clinton testify later in the month; Epstein’s accountant expected in March.

5. Catherine O’Hara’s Cause of Death Confirmed

• Medical Details Released:
  • Death certificate lists a pulmonary embolism, with rectal cancer as an underlying cause.
  • Catherine O’Hara passed away at 71 in Santa Monica on January 30. She had been undergoing cancer treatment since March of the previous year.

6. Market Update

• Dow Surges to Record:
  • The Dow closes up 20 points, setting a new record at 50,135. S&P and Nasdaq also post gains.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ainsley Earhart on Guthrie Family Appeal:
  • “We are at an hour of desperation and we need your help.” (00:04)
• Savannah Guthrie’s Hope:
  • “We believe our mother is hearing these prayers. We believe our mother is out there.” (01:03, paraphrased by Jonathan Hunt)
• Local Resident on School Shooting:
  • “You would think that this neighborhood wouldn't have problems like this, but there’s been numerous incidents…” (01:36)
• Senate Majority Leader John Thune on DHS Stalemate:
  • “I expect that the Trump administration, with the full backing of congressional Republicans, will continue to resist any effort to make it harder for law enforcement to detain and deport dangerous illegal aliens.” (02:42)
• James Comer on Maxwell Deposition:
  • “She had an opportunity today to answer questions that every American has…” (03:07)

---

Important Timestamps

• 00:02-01:15: Guthrie family’s appeal and update on ransom note in the search for Nancy Guthrie
• 01:15-01:56: Maryland school shooting incident, community reaction, and history of prior incidents
• 02:15-02:52: Homeland Security funding crisis and partisan standoff
• 03:07-03:36: Ghislaine Maxwell deposition, congressional frustration, and upcoming witness schedule
• 03:36-03:55: Confirmation of Catherine O’Hara’s cause of death and obituary
• 03:55-end: Financial market report

---

This brisk newscast maintains a tone of urgency and seriousness, adeptly capturing the day’s most pressing and developing national stories, blending direct quotes and straightforward reporting with a clear-eyed presentation of unfolding crises and political impasses.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

An appeal from the Guthrie family.

[Ainsley Earhart]

Lisa Brady, FOX NEWS we are at an hour of desperation and we need your help.

[Lisa Brady]

Savannah Guthrie posting a new video alone urging the public anywhere, not just in Tucson to report anything that might help on day nine of the search for her 84 year old mother, Nancy.

[Ainsley Earhart]

I wanted to come on and just share a few thoughts as we enter into another week of this nightmare.

[Lisa Brady]

This ahead of a deadline today, the second deadline that was set in a suspected ransom note last week. Over the weekend, the Today show host in a video with her siblings said they had received a message and that they would pay that to many people.

[Jonathan Hunt]

The message on Saturday appeared to be using language that sort of played into a worst case scenario in terms of the well being of Nancy Guthrie. This seemed to talk more very much. Not a best case scenario that is obviously getting back, but a not so bad case scenario in that she said, we believe our mother is hearing these prayers. We believe our mother is out there.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jonathan Hunt in Tucson where the FBI and sheriff's department are leading an ongoing investigation. One student hospitalized, another in custody after a school shooting in Maryland. Rockville police responding to Wootton High School this afternoon.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

The school was put on lockdown and a reunification center established as worried parents lined up in their cars waiting outside the school to pick up their kids again.

[Local Resident]

You would think that this neighborhood wouldn't have problems like this, but there's been numerous incidents and I'm not really sure how they've been handled. I don't have a good understanding that.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

Mother told Fox 5 DC there'd been incidents involving racist vandalism, swastikas drawn at the school and a previous bomb threat.

[Lisa Brady]

Jessica Rosenthal there. America's listening to FOX News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

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

[Podcast Host]

Jesus, a listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told.

[Jonathan Hunt]

Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Lisa Brady]

The clock's ticking on Capitol Hill to avoid a partial government shutdown over Homeland Security funding.

[Podcast Host]

Here we go again. Congress only has until the end of the day on Friday to figure out some sort of a deal here when it comes to this DHS funding. And that's really starting to look like more and more of a long shot at this point because Democrats are digging in on their demands that ICE either be reformed or defunded.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's bill belusion at the Capitol. Democrats proposing a 10 point list of reforms.

[Senate Majority Leader John Thune]

I expect that the Trump administration, with the full backing of congressional Republicans, will continue to resist any effort to make it harder for law enforcement to detain and deport dangerous illegal aliens.

[Lisa Brady]

Senate Majority Leader John Thune says he hopes Democrats will work with Republicans. Lawmakers hoping for answers, not getting them from convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell during a virtual deposition with a House panel from a prison in Texas.

[James Comer]

Jeffrey Epstein's associate invoking the Fifth Amendment and not answering questions, frustrating House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer. She had an opportunity today to answer questions that every American has, questions that.

[Lisa Brady]

Would be very important.

[James Comer]

The committee is investigating the late convicted sex trafficker and hope Ghislaine Maxwell's testimony will provide key information. Bill and Hillary Clinton are scheduled to sit for a deposition at the end of the month, with Epstein's accountant scheduled to meet with the committee in March.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Reince Melz on Capitol Hill. The cause of death now confirmed for actress Catherine o'. Hara. A death certificate issued today in California lists a pulmonary embolism as the immediate cause. That's when a blood clot blocks an artery in the lungs. Rectal cancer is listed as an underlying cause. An oncologist saying he'd been treating her since since March of last year. Catherine O' Hara was 71. She died at a hospital in Santa Monica on January 30th. Stocks finish higher, the Dow up 20 to a new record close 50,135. The S& P and the Nasdaq also in the green. I'm Lisa Brady, FOX NEWS.