7PM ET 02/01/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 7PM ET 02/01/2026 Newscast

Main Theme:
This episode provides listeners with a rapid-fire roundup of key national and international news stories of February 1, 2026. Major stories include Minneapolis ICE protests, US actions in the Middle East, the political showdown over a potential government shutdown, severe winter weather in the Carolinas, and the lead-up to Groundhog Day.

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Key News Stories & Discussion Points

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1. Minneapolis ICE Protests

[00:03 – 00:50]

• Protests Continue Despite Harsh Weather:
  Carmen Roberts opens by reporting on determined protestors braving freezing temperatures in Minneapolis, continuing their demands for ICE to leave, outside the Federal Whipple Building.

• Law Enforcement Standoff:
  Brooke Taylor describes the scene:

  • Protests are smaller than in previous days but remain disruptive.
  • Protestors are encouraging others (through social media) to bring materials—“signs, firewood and materials to help hold the intersection and, quote, impede ICE operations as much as possible” ([00:30], Brooke Taylor).
  • A Biden-appointed judge ruled that “Operation Metro Surge” can proceed.

Notable Quote:

“They've been blocking this neighborhood, basically encouraging people to impede law enforcement and effort.”
– Brooke Taylor [00:25]

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2. US–Iran Tensions & Middle East Military Movements

[00:50 – 01:41]

• President Trump on Iran:
  Carmen Roberts relays that President Trump is not ruling out military strikes on Iran amid the government's crackdown on protests, but remains open to negotiation.

• Negotiation with Iran:
  Dana Marie McNichol reports direct statements from President Trump:

  “A deal making a good negotiate a deal that would be satisfactory with no nuclear weapons. That said they should do that, but I don't know that they will. But they are talking to us.”
  – President Trump (as reported by Dana Marie McNichol) [01:02]

• Military Planning:

  • Jockeying in the Gulf: Matt Whitaker confirms ships are moving towards the region.

  • Matt Whitaker quotes a US ambassador to NATO saying:

    “The Iranians could de escalate very easily and simply and we'll see the balls in their court. But you know, President Trump is not going to be forever patient on this.”
    – Matt Whitaker, quoting ambassador Jack Callahan [01:23]

  • President Trump asserts the US will withhold sharing detailed military plans with Gulf allies ([01:33], Matt Whitaker).

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3. US Policy in Cuba & Venezuela

[01:41 – 02:00]

• Following the fall of the Maduro regime, President Trump states he is “negotiating with Cuba” but specifics remain undisclosed.

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4. Government Shutdown Averted?

[03:02 – 03:48]

• Speaker Mike Johnson’s Optimism:
  Carmen Roberts announces Speaker Johnson’s expectation to avoid the previous year’s government shutdown.

• Partisan Tensions Over Homeland Security Funding:
  Gernall Scott covers Democratic demands to remove funding for Homeland Security and ICE, pressing for a code of conduct.

• Compromise on ICE Accountability:
  Jack Callahan notes:

  “For example, we want body cameras on Immigration Customs Enforcement agents.”
  – Jack Callahan [03:33]

  Johnson points to $20 million for ICE body cams as a possible bridge to Democratic support.

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5. Severe Nor’easter Hits Carolinas and Virginia

[03:48 – 04:09]

• Record Snowfall:
  Haley Meyer in Greenville, North Carolina, describes:
  • Fourth snowiest event in state history, worst since 2004.
  • Outer Banks especially hard-hit, with at least one home “collapsing over in Buxton due to… nor' Easter winds.”

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6. Groundhog Day Preview

[04:09 – 04:39]

• Punxsutawney Phil:
  Jack Callahan explains the annual ritual and tradition, with up to 10,000 watching in Pennsylvania. If Phil sees his shadow, another six weeks of winter is forecast, as he did the previous year.

• Dana Marie McNichol adds levity:

  “There's a shadow up here. Get ready for six more weeks of winter this year.” [04:32]

• Jack Callahan contextualizes:

  “Six more weeks of winter is usually the safe bet as we are seven weeks away from the vernal equinox…” [04:39]

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On the ICE Protesters:

  “They've been blocking this neighborhood, basically encouraging people to impede law enforcement and effort.”
  – Brooke Taylor [00:25]

• On US-Iran Diplomacy:

  “A deal making a good negotiate a deal that would be satisfactory with no nuclear weapons. That said they should do that, but I don't know that they will. But they are talking to us.”
  – President Trump (via Dana Marie McNichol) [01:02]

• On Military Preparedness:

  “President Trump says the United States will not share military plans with Gulf allies.”
  – Matt Whitaker [01:33]

• On ICE Reform:

  “For example, we want body cameras on Immigration Customs Enforcement agents.”
  – Jack Callahan [03:33]

• On Groundhog Day:

  “Six more weeks of winter is usually the safe bet as we are seven weeks away from the vernal equinox, the astronomical start of spring.”
  – Jack Callahan [04:39]

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Timestamps Guide

| Segment | Start Time | |--------------------------------------|------------| | Minneapolis ICE Protests | 00:03 | | US-Iran Tensions/Military Movements | 00:50 | | US-Cuba/Venezuela Negotiations | 01:41 | | Govt Shutdown/ICE Body Cameras | 03:02 | | Nor’easter Weather Event | 03:48 | | Groundhog Day Ritual | 04:09 |

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Overall Tone:
Brisk, urgent, and highly informational—consistent with Fox News Radio’s commitment to rapid updates and succinct coverage. National security, weather emergencies, and political developments dominated this hour’s newscast, with snappy transitions between each segment.

Listeners takeaway:
This episode equips listeners with a precise and timely briefing on the nation’s top news stories, offering both official statements and on-the-scene reporting, with occasional moments of levity ahead of Groundhog Day.

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Transcript

[Carmen Roberts]

Protesting in the freezing cold. I'm Carmen Roberts, Fox News. People in Minneapolis are shaking off the bitter cold to keep their voices heard and demand that ICE leave those protesters outside the Federal Whipple Building today. But Fox's Brooke Taylor reports that overall it was a quieter day.

[Brooke Taylor]

But we did see a small group of protesters today. They've been blocking this neighborhood, basically encouraging people to impede law enforcement and effort. And even on their social media they wrote, quote, bring signs, firewood and materials to help hold the intersection and, quote, impede ICE operations as much as possible. But yesterday a Biden appointed judge ruled that Operation Metro Surge can continue on.

[Carmen Roberts]

President Trump is not ruling out military strikes on Iran amid a heavy crackdown on anti government protesters there. But Fox's Dana Marie McNichol reports the president says he is still open to.

[Dana Marie McNichol]

A deal making a good negotiate a deal that would be satisfactory with no nuclear weapons. That said they should do that, but I don't know that they will. But they are talking to us.

[Matt Whitaker]

Trump has made it clear that military planning is happening, confirming that the ships are heading in that direction. The U.S. ambassador to NATO, Matt Whitaker spoke on military presence in the Middle East.

[Jack Callahan]

The Iranians could de escalate very easily and simply and we'll see the balls in their court. But you know, President Trump is not going to be forever patient on this.

[Matt Whitaker]

Details about military action are being closely guarded. President Trump says the United States will not share military plans with Gulf allies.

[Carmen Roberts]

And President Trump says he is negotiating with Cuba following the fall of the Maduro regime in Venezuela and that he believes that he will be able to make a deal. But no word on what that deal might entail. America's listening to FOX News.

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[Carmen Roberts]

House Speaker Mike Johnson says he is optimistic there will not be a repeat of last year's lengthy government shutdown.

[Gernall Scott]

Speaker Johnson said there will be conversations with his Republican caucus to unify and pass funding bills once they return. Monday, Democrats push to cut out of the package funding for Homeland Security and its agencies such as ICE until, among other demands, an enforcement code of conduct is created. Speaker Johnson on Fox News Sunday said one Democratic demand is already there.

[Jack Callahan]

For example, we want body cameras on Immigration Customs Enforcement agents.

[Gernall Scott]

Johnson hopes that $20 million in the bill for those body cams will bring some Democrats to their side. GERNALL scott, FOX NEWS A major nor'.

[Carmen Roberts]

Easter crushes the Carolinas and Virginia with heavy snow and dangerously cold temperatures. Fox Weather's Haley Meyer reports from GRE Greenville, North Carolina.

[Haley Meyer]

It was the fourth snowiest North Carolina has ever been in the state's history, the snowiest since 2004. Outer Banks took it hard, one home officially collapsing over in Buxton due to the intense nor' Easter winds.

[Carmen Roberts]

And in other news, Monday is Groundhog's Day, and that little varmint's gonna supposedly tell us whether winter will linger with.

[Jack Callahan]

As many as 10,000 people there to watch. Punxsutawney Phil will be pulled from his hutch in the Pennsylvania borough that shares his name. If he sees his shadow, legend says it portends another six weeks of winter weather. You may recall that's what Phil suggested last year.

[Dana Marie McNichol]

There's a shadow up here. Get ready for six more weeks of winter this year.

[Jack Callahan]

Six more weeks of winter is usually the safe bet as we are seven weeks away from the vernal equinox, the astronomical start of spring in the Northern hemisphere. The forecast for Punxsutawney is partly sunny, so it could go either way. Jack callahan, FOX NEWS and I'm Carmen Robertson.

[Carmen Roberts]

This is FOX news.

[Matt Whitaker]

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