9AM ET 01/02/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 9AM ET, January 2, 2026

Host: Dave Anthony, FOX News Podcasts
Date: January 2, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise roundup of top national and international news stories, covering escalating tensions in Iran in response to President Trump’s social posts, scrutiny over fraud in Minnesota, a deadly nightclub fire in Switzerland, sweeping policy changes in New York City’s new mayoral era, and the rollout of new minimum wage and domestic violence laws in the U.S. Also included: a look at promising trends on Wall Street as the year begins.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S.–Iran Tensions Escalate After Presidential Statement

• President Trump’s Social Media Warning

  • Early morning: President Trump posts on Truth Social, warning Iran against violently targeting protesters (“we're locked and loaded and ready to go”) ([00:03]).
  • Iranian officials threaten that U.S. intervention will “cause chaos and destroy US Interests.”
  • Context: The protests in Iran are now in their sixth day.

• On-the-Ground in Iran

  • Jessica Rosenthal: Social media is filled with protest videos, now focused not only on economic grievances but challenging the regime’s legitimacy and demanding a return of the shah ([00:25]).
  • U.S.-based human rights groups report at least seven protester deaths.

• Notable Quote:

  “If Iran violently kills peaceful protesters, the US Will come to their rescue, adding we're locked and loaded and ready to go.”
  — Dave Anthony quoting President Trump ([00:06])

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2. President Trump’s Health and WSJ Report

• Trump’s Response to Age Concerns
  • President posts that he is in “perfect health” and aced his cognitive exam after a Wall Street Journal article raises questions about his age and possible lapses at public events ([00:43]).
  • Dismisses incidents as being “caught napping” as photos of him blinking.

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3. Minnesota Faces Growing Fraud Crisis

• COVID-Era Loan Fraud

  • Chainley Painted: SBA blocks thousands of potentially fraudulent PPP and EIDL loans totaling about $400 million ([01:10]).
  • Governor Tim Walz under scrutiny for accepting $10,000 from donors linked to daycare centers implicated in social services fraud.

• Quote:

  “Walls has def collected all blame but a new report claims the governor received $10,000 from donors tied to Somali run daycare centers.”
  — Chainley Painted ([01:21])

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4. Switzerland Bar Fire Tragedy

• Incident Overview
  • 40 people killed, 115 injured after a fire erupts in a nightclub in Switzerland an hour into the new year ([01:36]).
  • Cause not officially known, but eyewitnesses report firework candles inside a champagne bottle led to an explosion.

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5. New York City’s Socialist Era Begins

• Mayor Zoran Mamdani Inauguration

  • Second day for NYC’s first openly socialist mayor ([02:32]).
  • Mayor Mamdani: Commits “never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try,” pledges not to compromise principles.

• Early Executive Action

  • Gernall Scott: Mamdani focuses on promises to renters, signs an executive order reviving an office to protect tenants ([02:48]).
  • Additional orders aim to accelerate housing development.
  • City pledges to fight price gouging and unsafe conditions ([03:09]).

• Quotes:

  “We may not always succeed, but never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try.”
  — Mayor Zoran Mamdani ([02:36])
  “If your landlord does not responsibly steward your home, city government will step in.”
  — City Housing Office, read by HGTV Host ([03:04])

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6. Nationwide Legal Reforms in the New Year

• Minimum Wage Increases

  • 19 states raise minimum wage; Washington state leads at $17.13/hr ([03:27]).

• Tennessee Launches Domestic Violence Registry

  • Registry named after Savannah Puckett, murdered by her ex-boyfriend—aims to increase transparency and prevent repeat offenses ([03:42]).

• Quote:

  “The registry will include the offender's name, photograph, date of birth and date and county of convictions. Offenders could remain on the registry anywhere from two to 20 years, depending on how many times they've been convicted of domestic violence.”
  — Jack Callahan ([03:54])

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7. Wall Street Outlook

• New Year Stock Market Trends
  • Positive forecast: Dow futures up 100+ points, S&P and Nasdaq had strong performances in 2025 ([04:19]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If Iran violently kills peaceful protesters, the US Will come to their rescue… we're locked and loaded and ready to go.”
  — President Trump, via Dave Anthony ([00:06])

• “We may not always succeed, but never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try.”
  — Mayor Zoran Mamdani ([02:36])

• “If your landlord does not responsibly steward your home, city government will step in.”
  — City Housing Office, read by HGTV Host ([03:04])

• “The registry will include the offender's name, photograph, date of birth and date and county of convictions...”
  — Jack Callahan ([03:54])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:03 – U.S. warning to Iran over protests; Trump Truth Social post
• 00:25 – On-the-ground protest coverage in Iran
• 00:43 – Trump addresses health rumors after WSJ report
• 01:10 – SBA blocks $400M in fraudulent loans in Minnesota; political fallout
• 01:36 – 40 killed in Switzerland bar fire
• 02:32 – NYC Mayor Mamdani’s inauguration; new socialist agenda
• 03:27 – National minimum wage increases, Tennessee’s new domestic violence offender registry
• 04:19 – Wall Street kicks off 2026 with positive momentum

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This summary provides a comprehensive account of the 9AM ET Fox News Hourly Update for January 2, 2026, highlighting the episode’s main news topics, key details, and quoted moments for listeners seeking a fast yet thorough overview.

Transcript

[Dave Anthony]

A threat in a Trump truth. I'm Dave Anthony, Fox News. Very early this morning the president sent a message to Iran posting on Truth social if Iran violently kills peaceful protesters, the US Will come to their rescue, adding we're locked and loaded and ready to go. Some Iranian officials have replied, warning American intervention would cause chaos and destroy US Interests. As protests rage in Iran's sixth day.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

Social media is filled with videos of protests across Iran with chants that have moved past anger about the economy and a collapsed currency. Focused as well on the regime's leadership and a demand for the return of the shah the king. The U. S based human rights activist news agency has documented seven deaths so far.

[Dave Anthony]

This is Jessica Rosenthal in another Trump truth social post. Just before dawn, the president boasted that White House doctors say he's in perfect health and he aced with the perfect score. A cognitive exam following a Wall Street Journal story that cites worry he's showing his age now 79 when about supposedly being caught napping at events. The president told the Journal people snapped pictures of a mid blink showing his eyes closed. Minnesota is under even more scrutiny over more alleged fraud. The Small Business Administration blocking thousands of COVID era loans.

[Chainley Painted]

In total, these borrowers were approved for 7900 PPP and Economic Injury Disaster Loans worth approximately $400 million. And this announcement comes as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his administration face scrutiny over billions of dollars in social services fraud. Walls has def collected all blame but a new report claims the governor received $10,000 from donors tied to Somali run daycare centers.

[Dave Anthony]

Fox has Chainley painted. They're still trying to identify the 40 people killed when a fire broke out an hour and a half into the new year in a bar in Switzerland.

[Chainley Painted]

The cause of the fire is not officially known, but one witness told a French broadcaster it was firework candles inside a champagne bottle that caused the explosion.

[Dave Anthony]

Fox's Rebecca Castor 115 people also injured by the fire and the panicked rush to flee. America's listening to Fox News.

[HGTV Host]

Welcome to our ugly home. Reddit is back for a historically hideous season. It's our 100th ugly house. This place is mayhem. That is impressive. And if these walls could talk. Do you cry a lot? I do. They'd have a lot to say. What in God's name is this pit? Don't get too close.

[Dave Anthony]

No, no.

[Gernall Scott]

You've seen the show.

[HGTV Host]

I'm scared of that. Ugliest house in America. Season premiere Wednesday at 8 on HGTV.

[Dave Anthony]

It's day two of a new socialist era in New York City.

[HGTV Host]

We may not always succeed, but never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try.

[Dave Anthony]

Mayor Zoran Mamdani also told the crowd at his inauguration he won't abandon his principles for fear of being called radical.

[Gernall Scott]

On the campaign trail now, Mayor Mamdani talked often about what he'd do for renters. While he can't impose a promised rent freeze yet on day one at a city apartment building, Mamdani, by executive order, resurrected an office to protect tenants.

[HGTV Host]

If your landlord does not responsibly steward your home, city government will step in.

[Gernall Scott]

Two other orders will work together to quicken the pace of housing development. He also promised residents the city will fight against price gouging and unsafe conditions as part of his pledge to make New York City more livable. On his watch in New York City, Gernall Scott, FOX NEWS.

[Dave Anthony]

The new year has brought in a lot of new laws across the country. 19 states raised their minimum wage. Washington's the highest in The Nation, now $17.13 an hour. Tennessee is the first state to create a public registry for repeat offenders of domestic violence.

[Jack Callahan]

The new registry is named after Savannah Puckett, a sheriff's deputy murdered by her ex boyfriend who had a history of domestic violence that wasn't easily accessible. Supporters say the tool is designed to help prevent domestic violence by making repeat abusers easier to identify. Anyone can view the information on file managed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The registry will include the offender's name, photograph, date of birth and date and county of convictions. Offenders could remain on the registry anywhere from two to 20 years, depending on how many times they've been convicted of domestic violence. Jack Callahan, FOX NEWS On Wall street.

[Dave Anthony]

Stocks could ring in the new year with more gains. Dow futures up more than 100 points after rising 13% in 2025. The Nasdaq surge up 20% last year. I'm Dave Anthony. Fox News.

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[Jessica Rosenthal]

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