Dangerous winter storm blasts the South

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: Dangerous Winter Storm Blasts the South

Date: January 31, 2026
Host: Paul Stevens, FOX News Podcasts

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a rapid-fire roundup of major news events. The primary focus is a severe winter storm poised to hit the Southeastern U.S., with historical snowfall expected in the Carolinas. The show also covers a federal government shutdown, proposed changes to election laws, the financial cost of city troop deployments, and controversy around ICE enforcement in Seattle.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Major Winter Storm Threatening the South

Segment Start: [00:02]

• Paul Stevens opens by highlighting an unusually powerful nor’easter set to strike the East Coast, potentially bringing record snowfall to the Carolinas.
• Bob Van Dillen of FOX Weather (on location):
  • Reports that all of North and South Carolina are under winter storm warnings, a rare occurrence.
  • Notable details:
    • Snowfall projections:
      • Charlotte, NC: 8–10 inches (“It’s a fluffy stuff. It’s easy to plow, but it’s still going to pile up. It’s going to stick to just about everything.” — Bob Van Dillen, [00:36])
      • Greenville-Spartanburg, SC: 2–5 inches
      • Atlanta, GA: 1–3 inches
  • Warns that travel will be severely disrupted, especially along the I-85 corridor and at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport.
  • Governors of NC, SC, GA have all declared states of emergency.

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2. Federal Government Shutdown Update

Segment Start: [00:48]

• Paul Stevens transitions to breaking news on the federal government shutdown.
• Chad Pergrim (Capitol Hill correspondent):
  • Explains the cause:
    • Senate changed the House’s spending package, approving five bills but withholding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding due to disputes over ICE policy.
    • The shutdown will last until at least Monday night, affecting non-DHS functions.
    • Quote: “The Senate broke off the DHS bill and sent the rest of the package back to the House. That triggers a shutdown until at least Monday night.” — Chad Pergrim, [01:13]
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson pressing for a quick resolution but DHS is only funded for two weeks.
  • Uncertainty over House support for the Senate’s revisions.

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3. Protests and Arrests in Los Angeles

Segment Start: [01:31]

• Violent agitators arrested outside the federal detention center in LA.
• Thousands marched from City Hall, with a mob blocking entrances and pushing a large construction dumpster into the area.
• The update is brief, signaling significant unrest but without detailed analysis or commentary.

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4. Election Legislation Push

Segment Start: [02:39]

• House Republicans introduce the “Make Elections Great Again” (MEGA) act.
  • Key provisions:
    • Photo ID required for in-person voting
    • Citizenship verification for voter registration
    • Mail-in ballots required to be received by poll closing (as opposed to some states allowing later deadlines)
• Democratic Response:
  • House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries: Quote: “Voter suppression is part of the Republican plan to try desperately to hold on to power.” ([03:10])
  • Dismisses the bill’s chances, calling it ‘dead on arrival.’
• The future of the bill is uncertain; no clear timeline for a vote.

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5. Cost of Urban Troop Deployments

Segment Start: [03:23]

• Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report:
  • Estimated cost of National Guard and Marine deployments to U.S. cities in 2025: $496 million.
  • Deployments include Los Angeles, Washington, Chicago, Portland, Memphis, and New Orleans—aimed at combating crime.
• Cost estimate requested by Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley, Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee.
• Quote: “The president has sent National Guard or active duty Marine Corps troops to LA, Washington, Chicago, Portland, Oregon, Memphis and New Orleans all as a way to fight crime.” — Joel Naito, [03:52]

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6. Seattle Police Guild Pushback on ICE Reporting

Segment Start: [04:11]

• Seattle Police Officers Guild president rejects Mayor Katie Wilson’s plan for local police to “investigate, verify and document” ICE enforcement actions.
• The move follows new measures announced by Seattle’s progressive mayor.
• Local police union's resistance signals division over city cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

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Notable Quotes

• Bob Van Dillen:

  • “The entire state of North and South Carolina under a winter storm warning. How often does that happen? Hardly ever.” ([00:18])
  • “Charlotte today going for about 8–10. And it’s a fluffy stuff. It’s easy to plow, but it’s still going to pile up.” ([00:36])

• Chad Pergrim:

  • “The Senate broke off the DHS bill and sent the rest of the package back to the House. That triggers a shutdown until at least Monday night.” ([01:13])

• Hakeem Jeffries:

  • “Voter suppression is part of the Republican plan to try desperately to hold on to power.” ([03:10])

• Joel Naito:

  • “The president has sent National Guard or active duty Marine Corps troops to LA, Washington, Chicago, Portland, Oregon, Memphis and New Orleans all as a way to fight crime.” ([03:52])

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• [00:02] | Major winter storm coverage
• [00:48] | Federal government shutdown explained
• [01:31] | Violent protests in Los Angeles
• [02:39] | “Make Elections Great Again” act introduced
• [03:23] | Troop deployment costs
• [04:11] | Seattle police guild and ICE enforcement debate

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Memorable Moments

• The rare declaration of a statewide winter storm warning for both Carolinas, signaling a historic weather event.
• Direct criticism by Hakeem Jeffries toward Republican election security efforts, underscoring partisan tension.
• The CBO’s nearly half-billion dollar estimate for National Guard deployments, spotlighted as part of the broader crime debate in major cities.

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Summary Prepared For:
Listeners who want the core facts, perspectives, and political context on the day's headline topics without missing the episode's fast-moving style and tone.

Transcript

[A]

Another weekend weather event. I'm Paul Stevens, FOX News. A big, powerful nor' easter set to slam parts of the east coast this weekend could bring the heaviest snow in decades to the Carolinas. That's where FOX Weather's Bob Van Dillen is.

[B]

We've got winter storm warnings in effect for Charlotte, North Carolina. In fact, the entire state of north and South Carolina under a winter storm warning. How often does that happen? Hardly ever. And those warnings go all the way down the stripe of I85 right into Atlanta, Georgia, Atlanta, by the way, 1 to 3 inches of snow out there. So that's going to be a travel nightmare. Trying to head out of Hartsfield, Jackson, then up I85 and then Greenville, Spartanburg calling for about 2 to 5 inches of snow. Charlotte today going for about 8 to 10. And it's a fluffy stuff. It's easy to plow, but it's still going to pile up. It's going to stick to just about everything.

[A]

And the governors of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia all declaring states of emergency. A partial shutdown of the federal government is on. Chad Pergrim on Capitol Hill explains that's.

[C]

Because the Senate changed what the House passed last week. The Senate approved five spending bills, but Democrats insisted on holding up the DHS bill. They wanted changes at ice. The Senate broke off the DHS bill and sent the rest of the package back to the House. That triggers a shutdown until at least Monday night. Now, House Speaker Mike Johnson implored Republicans to vote yes on Monday. That would end the shutdown after 70 hours. But DHS is only funded for two.

[A]

Weeks and it's not clear how many House members will support that revised package. Violent agitators arrested outside the federal Detention center in Los Angeles. Thousands gathering in front of the city hall there before marching to the federal Detention center where a mob swarmed the area, pushing a large construction dumpster and blocking the entrance to the building's loading dock. On Friday night, America is listening to FOX News.

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[A]

House Republicans releasing a plan they say will secure America's elections.

[E]

Dubbed the Make Elections Great Again act, the GOP led bill would require photo ID when casting a ballot and verification of citizenship when registering to vote. The MEGA act would also require mail in ballots be received by the time polls close on Election Day. While some states allow mail in ballots be received after Election Day, it's part of Republicans push to secure U.S. elections. But House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries calls it dead on arrival.

[A]

Voter suppression is part of the Republican plan to try desperately to hold on to power.

[E]

It's unclear how soon the bill could get a vote in the House. On Capitol Hill, Ryan Schmell's Fox News.

[A]

New report out there says President Trump's big city troop deployments are not cheap.

[F]

The Congressional Budget Office says the price tag to troops in several American cities in 2025 is about $496 million. The CBO looked at things like the cost to activate, deploy and compensate National Guard personnel, as well as the logistical costs of maintaining those deployments. The president has sent National Guard or active duty Marine Corps troops to la, Washington, Chicago, Portland, Oregon, Memphis and New Orleans, all as a way to fight crime. The CBO report was done at the request of Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, the ranking member on the Senate Budget Committee. In Washington, Joel Naito, Fox News the.

[A]

President of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, the union representing rank and file cops, shooting down the idea of having his officers investigate, verify and document reports of ICE enforcement activities. This after Seattle's progressive mayor Katie Wilson announced a series of moves Thursday. She says to do just that. I'm Paul Stevens. This is Fox News.

[F]

This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the.

[A]

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