7PM ET 02/20/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: 7PM ET – February 20, 2026

Episode Overview

This concise newscast from FOX News covers major national stories of February 20, 2026, with updates from Washington, developments in high-profile criminal cases, and policy shifts impacting transportation, energy, and space exploration. Anchored by Lisa Lacera, it features field reports, official statements, and legislative reactions to the day’s most consequential events.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump Tariffs

• President Trump’s Response ([00:02]–[00:42])

  • The Supreme Court ruled 6:3 against Trump’s "Liberation Day" tariffs, invalidating his broad emergency tariff policy.
  • Trump criticized the Court’s stance as unpatriotic and disloyal to the Constitution.
  • He vowed to continue aggressive trade action by considering a universal 10% global tariff:

    “We’re going forward. We will be able to take in more money and there'll no longer be doubt because there was always doubt.” — President Trump ([00:35])

• Legislative Response: Senator Amy Klobuchar’s View ([00:51]–[01:09])

  • While she previously supported tariffs, Senator Klobuchar criticized Trump’s approach as reckless, citing negative impacts on Minnesota farmers:

    “They used a sledgehammer here with this statute and have done great harm for farmers in my state. One said it was a perfect storm of ugly how his soybean market has dried up.” — Sen. Amy Klobuchar ([00:57])

2. Ongoing Disappearance: Nancy Guthrie Case

• Investigation Status ([01:20]–[01:45])
  • Lisa Lacera reports on the now 20-day search for Nancy Guthrie, 84-year-old mother of TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie, missing since January 31st.
  • 911 dispatch manager Cecilia Ochoa describes fluctuating tip volumes, with surges following media updates:

    “It has slowed down a bit but we get flurries of calls. The flurries happen after media releases or press conferences or a new piece of information has been released to the public.” — Pima County Investigator ([01:28])

  • Ochoa assures the public that every tip is being thoroughly reviewed.

3. True Crime Update: Former American Idol Contestant Charged with Murder

• Details of the Case ([02:37]–[03:18])
  • Caleb Flynn, a 2013 American Idol contestant, is charged with murdering his wife, Ashley Flynn, in Tip City, Ohio.
  • Police allege the scene was staged as a burglary; Flynn pleaded not guilty, with bond set at $2 million.
  • The couple’s children were found unharmed.

4. Transportation Policy: CDL Test Language Requirement

• New Regulation ([03:18]–[03:40])
  • The Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) test will now be administered exclusively in English.
  • President Trump at a press event:

    “Do you want well trained, well qualified drivers behind the wheel of a big rig driving on American roads?” — President Trump ([03:22])

  • Transportation Secretary Sean Duffe explains the move is to ensure drivers can read road signs and talk with law enforcement.

5. Energy & Environment: EPA Rolls Back Coal Plant Rules

• Pollution Standards Eased ([03:40]–[04:22])
  • The EPA is loosening air pollution rules for coal plants, citing increased energy demand from expanded data center operations for AI.
  • Critics, notably public health groups, warn these rollbacks endanger vulnerable populations.
  • Synopsis of the legal backdrop: Earlier Obama/Biden-era standards remained after Supreme Court inaction on challenges.
  • Trump’s administration declared an energy emergency to keep aging coal plants open and grant exemptions from several regulations.

6. Space: NASA Moon Orbit Mission

• Lunar Plans Announced ([04:22]–[04:37])
  • NASA confirms preparations to send astronauts to orbit the moon next month, following successful rocket fueling tests.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Trump’s Rebuke of the Supreme Court Decision:

  “They’re very unpatriotic and disloyal to our Constitution.” ([00:21])

• Sen. Klobuchar on Tariff Damage:

  “It was a perfect storm of ugly how his soybean market has dried up.” ([00:57])

• Pima County Official on Search Efforts:

  “It has slowed down a bit but we get flurries of calls. The flurries happen after media releases or press conferences...” ([01:28])

• President Trump on CDL Requirements:

  “Do you want well trained, well qualified drivers behind the wheel of a big rig driving on American roads?” ([03:22])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Tariffs & Supreme Court Ruling: [00:02]–[00:51]
• Sen. Klobuchar’s Reaction: [00:51]–[01:09]
• Nancy Guthrie Disappearance Investigation: [01:20]–[01:45]
• Caleb Flynn Arrest Coverage: [02:37]–[03:18]
• English-only CDL Test Regulation: [03:18]–[03:40]
• EPA Coal Plant Regulation Rollback: [03:40]–[04:22]
• NASA Moon Orbit Announcement: [04:22]–[04:37]

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Tone

The episode maintains FOX News’s brisk, straight-news delivery, occasionally punctuated by assertive political statements and personal observations from lawmakers and officials.

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This summary captures the essentials and nuances from the FOX News 7PM ET newscast on February 20, 2026, providing listeners with a clear outline and memorable highlights from the day’s major stories.

Transcript

[Lisa Lacera]

He says he will find a way. I'm Lisa Lacera, Fox News. President Trump vows to continue his tariff policy after the Supreme Court struck down his Liberation Day tariffs.

[Jared Halpern]

The president struck a defiant tone after a 6:3 Supreme Court ruling upended his wide ranging tariff policy.

[President Trump]

They're very unpatriotic and disloyal to our Constitution.

[Jared Halpern]

Still, President Trump says the administration will use alternatives to the emergency tariffs he imposed, including including setting a temporary 10% global tariff.

[President Trump]

We're going forward. We will be able to take in more money and there'll no longer be doubt because there was always doubt.

[Jared Halpern]

President Trump has credited his use of tariffs for ending foreign conflicts and securing favorable trade deals for the US Fox's

[Lisa Lacera]

Jared Halpern at the White House, Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar tells Fox's Brett Baer while she supported tariffs in the

[Senator Amy Klobuchar]

past, they used a sledgehammer here with this statute and have done great harm for farmers in my state. One said it was a perfect storm of ugly how his soybean market has dried up.

[Lisa Lacera]

And Senator Klobuchar said the chaos the tariffs have created has done damage to our economy. Investigators continue to run down leads as the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie is now in day 20.

[Cecilia Ochoa]

Pima County 911 dispatch manager Cecilia Ochoa telling Fox about the tip call load since Nancy Guthrie's disappearance.

[Investigator or Law Enforcement Official]

It has slowed down a bit but we get flurries of calls. The flurries happen after media releases or press conferences or a new piece of information has been released to the public,

[Cecilia Ochoa]

stressing investigators continue to comb through every tip.

[Lisa Lacera]

Fox's Kristin Goodwin, the 84 year old mother of Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie, was last seen January 31st and reported missing the following day. America is listening to Fox News.

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[Lisa Lacera]

Fox A former American Idol contestant facing murder charges in Ohio.

[Jeff Manasso]

Police in Tip city, Ohio say 39 year old Caleb Flynn has been booked on homicide and other charges in the death of his wife, 37 year old Ashley Flynn, who was shot to death inside the family home Monday. Flynn is accused of staging the killing to look like a break in and burglary. Go the couple's children unharmed. Caleb Flynn was a contestant on American Idol in 2013 after pleading not guilty at his arraignment. His bond was set at $2 million. He's currently being held in the Miami County Jail. Jeff Manasso, Fox News Commercial Driver's license

[Lisa Lacera]

test will now only be given in English the debate really is do you

[President Trump]

want well trained, well qualified drivers behind the wheel of a big rig driving on American roads?

[Lisa Lacera]

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffe says it's to make sure drivers understand English enough to read road signs and communicate with law enforcement. The Trump administration rolling back air regulations

[Cecilia Ochoa]

for coal plants the Environmental Protection Agency is easing pollution standards for coal plants, citing the need to boost energy production amid the expansion of data centers used for artificial intelligence. Public health groups are pushing back, saying it will harm the health of the country's most vulnerable groups. Mercury and air toxic standards set in 2012 and updated during the Biden administration had still been in effect after the Supreme Court declined to put the rules on hold after a group of mostly Republican led states and industry groups challenged it in court. Last year, President Trump declared an energy emergency to justify moves to keep open aging coal plants that had been set to close and exempting some from key air regulations. Tanya J. Powers, FOX News.

[Lisa Lacera]

NASA says it's planning to send astronauts to orbit to the moon next month after the latest rocket fueling test was successful. I'm Lisa Licera. This is FOX News.

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