9PM ET 02/02/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update — 9PM ET 02/02/2026 Newscast

Host: Lisa Licera, FOX News Podcasts
Date: February 3, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise roundup of major national and international news stories, focusing on developments in U.S. government funding negotiations, advancements in DHS accountability practices, progress in the high-profile Epstein investigation, a tragic fraternity event in Arizona, international reactions to a Grammy win by the Dalai Lama, and a minor earthquake in California.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Government Shutdown: House to Vote on Funding Plans

[00:02]

• The House of Representatives is set to vote on a funding plan to end the government shutdown, following Senate passage last week. The plan would:
  • Fund the government through September.
  • Provide short-term funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for two additional weeks.
• House Democrats express discontent with the Senate compromise.
• The swearing-in of Texas Democrat Christian Menefee narrows the Republicans’ margin, allowing them to lose only one vote for passage.

Notable Points:

• House Democrats expect Republicans to carry the procedural vote burden due to their majority.
• Rep. Jeffries notes that some Democrats might support the bill if it helps projects important to their districts.
  • “House Democrats are not aligned with what Senate Democrats agreed to on Friday. And some Democrats will not vote yes until they see changes. Numbers matter.” — House Democrat Spokesperson [00:16]

2. DHS Body Camera Expansion

[00:49]

• Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announces all immigration agents in Minnesota will now wear body cameras.
• There’s an intention to expand the program as additional funding permits.

3. Epstein Investigation: Testimonies and Redacted Files

[00:49–01:46]

• Former President Bill Clinton and ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed in principle to testify in the House’s Epstein investigation. An official agreement is pending.
• The House Oversight Committee, led by James Comer, is driving the inquiry.
• The Justice Department removed thousands of videos and images from its website, prompted by concerns over materials that could identify victims.
  • “Officials worked all hours through the weekend...to take down documents and media that may have inadvertently included victim identifying information.” — DOJ Representative [01:19]
• New York Times reports that dozens of nude images were published in error.
• Federal law mandates the Epstein files' release, but requires that sexually explicit content and details that could reveal victims’ identities are redacted.

4. Tragic Fraternity Death in Arizona

[02:44]

• At a Delta Tau Delta rush event at Northern Arizona University, an 18-year-old student was found dead at an off-campus house.
• Cause under investigation; police and medical examiner looking into possible alcohol and hazing involvement.
• Neighbors and hosts call the incident preventable.
• Three fraternity leaders are charged with hazing; the fraternity is on interim suspension from the university.
  • “That’s a trauma that all of those kids that were in that house that night are now going to have to deal with for the rest of their lives.” — Lisa Licera/Jeff Manaso [03:04–03:11]

5. North Sea Manslaughter Verdict

[03:26]

• Russian captain Vladimir Mochin found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter in relation to a fatal US oil tanker collision in the North Sea.
• Sentencing scheduled for later in the week.

6. China Criticizes Dalai Lama’s Grammy Win

[03:41]

• The Dalai Lama wins a Grammy for his audiobook, "Reflections of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama."
  • “He receives this recognition with gratitude and humility.” — Dalai Lama (via C.J. Papa) [03:41]
• China denounces the award, alleging it serves as anti-China political manipulation.
• The episode recaps the Dalai Lama’s ongoing exile in India and Beijing’s stance on his activism.
  • “China’s foreign ministry accused him of using religion to spread anti-China separatist activities.” — C.J. Papa [03:41]

7. Earthquake Rattles San Francisco Bay Area

[04:21]

• Several minor earthquakes shook the Bay Area; no immediate reports of damage.
• The episode notes heightened seismic activity in the region in recent months.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “House Democrats are not aligned with what Senate Democrats agreed to on Friday. And some Democrats will not vote yes until they see changes. Numbers matter.”
  — House Democrat Spokesperson [00:16]

• “That’s a trauma that all of those kids that were in that house that night are now going to have to deal with for the rest of their lives.”
  — Lisa Licera/Jeff Manaso, on the Flagstaff fraternity death [03:04–03:11]

• “He receives this recognition with gratitude and humility.”
  — Dalai Lama (quoted by C.J. Papa) on Grammy win [03:41]

• “Officials worked all hours through the weekend...to take down documents and media that may have inadvertently included victim identifying information.”
  — DOJ Representative on Epstein file removals [01:19]

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Useful Timestamps

• [00:02] — Shutdown plan and House vote preview
• [00:16] — House Democrat concerns and Texas swearing-in
• [00:49] — DHS body camera announcement
• [00:49–01:46] — Epstein investigation updates and DOJ actions
• [02:44] — Fraternity death in Arizona
• [03:26] — North Sea manslaughter verdict
• [03:41] — China’s criticism of Dalai Lama’s Grammy
• [04:21] — Bay Area earthquake report

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This newscast delivers rapid, punchy coverage of headline news with a focus on government proceedings, law enforcement transparency, justice, and international relations. The tone is direct and informative, maintaining urgency appropriate for fast-breaking stories.

Transcript

[Lisa Licera]

The plan to end the shutdown. I'm Lisa Licera, FOX News. The House set to vote tomorrow on a plan that would keep the government running through September and a short term bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks after the Senate passed it last week.

[House Democrat Spokesperson]

House Democrats are not aligned with what Senate Democrats agreed to on Friday. And some Democrats will not vote yes until they see changes. Numbers matter. The House swears in Texas Democrat Christian Menefee. He won a special election over the weekend. That means Republicans can only lose one vote and still pass the bill. House Democrats believe it's the Republicans responsibility to pass a procedural vote since they hold the majority. But Jeffries says some Democrats could vote yes on the actual bill because of projects important to them.

[Lisa Licera]

Fox's Chad Pergam on Capitol Hill. This is Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has announced all immigration agents in Minnesota will wear body cameras and and that program will be expanded as funding allows. Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify in the House Epstein investigation, but House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer says an agreement has not been finalized. Meanwhile, the Justice Department has removed thousands of videos and images from its website related to the Epstein probe.

[DOJ Representative]

A statement from the DOJ says officials worked all hours through the weekend from the point the first victim. Related concerns were raised to take down documents and media that may have inadvertently included victim identifying information. The New York Times reports dozens of nude images were published. A law passed by Congress last year requires the full release of Epstein files, but with both sexually explicit images and information that could identify victims redacted.

[Lisa Licera]

Fox's Jared Halpern the White House. America is listening to FOX News.

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[Lisa Licera]

A fraternity recruitment event turns deadly.

[Jeff Manasso]

Police and Flagstaff say an 18 year old Northern Arizona University student was found dead Saturday in an off campus home after attending a Delta Tau Delta rush party or recruitment event. The cause of death not clear as police and the medical examiner look into alcohol consumption and hazing neighbors call it all preventable have happened.

[Lisa Licera]

That's a trauma that all of those.

[Jeff Manasso]

All of those kids that were in.

[Lisa Licera]

That house that night are now going to have to deal with for the rest of their lives.

[Jeff Manasso]

Three fraternity leaders are now charged with hazing in connection to the student's death. Northern Arizona University in a statement calling the loss devastating that it's placed the Delta Tau Delta fraternity on interim suspension. Jeff Manasso, FOX News.

[Lisa Licera]

The Russian captain of a cargo ship has been found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter after a crash last year into a US Oil tanker in the North Sea that killed one person. Vladimir Mochin will be sentenced later this week. China is upset over a Grammy winner.

[C.J. Papa]

Beijing bashing the Dalai Lama's first victory, describing the industry's award for an audiobook, narration and storytelling as a tool for anti China political manipulation. The Dalai Lama is the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader lives in exile in India. He won for his book the Reflections of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. He said he receives this recognition with gratitude and humility. China's foreign ministry accused him of using religion to spread anti China separatist activities. Tibet is an autonomous region ruled by China, which has been accused of trying to wipe out Tibetan language, culture and identity. C.J. papa, Fox News.

[Lisa Licera]

A series of small earthquakes rattled the San Francisco Bay area this morning in an area that's had a lot of seismic activity in recent months. There are no immediate reports of any damage. I'm Lisa Licera. This is fox. This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the.

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