Federal prosecutors open investigation into Walz, Frey over alleged impeding of law enforcement

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update — January 17, 2026

Episode Main Theme:
This Fox News Hourly Update covers breaking developments in federal investigations involving Minnesota officials, policy changes on health care, a historic gubernatorial inauguration, updates on major legal cases, and scientific findings in public health debates. The tone is urgent and factual, keeping to Fox News' signature rapid-fire format.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Investigation Into Minnesota Officials

• Paul Stevens [00:02]: Announces that the Justice Department is opening an investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey over allegations of interfering with federal immigration efforts in Minneapolis.
• Matt Finn [00:17]:
  • Reports Mayor Frey claims the investigation is meant to intimidate him.
  • Governor Walz says, “Weaponizing the Justice System against your opponents is an authoritarian tactic.” He also highlights that, “The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Goode is the federal agent who shot her.”
  • A Biden-appointed US District Judge rules that officers cannot use tear gas on peaceful protesters, following a civil rights lawsuit.
  • DHS Secretary Trisha McLaughlin: Counters that “these protesters are not peaceful,” and writes, “despite these grave threats and dangerous situations, our law enforcement has followed their training and used the minimum amount of force necessary to protect themselves, the public and federal property.”

2. Health Care Policy Developments

• Jared Halpern [00:59]: Recaps President Trump’s proposal of the “great health care plan,” which:
  • Ends federal subsidies to insurers.
  • Creates federally-backed health savings accounts.
  • Seeks to codify prescription drug price agreements and boost fraud safeguards, though “the framework leaves a lot of details to be ironed out by lawmakers, including payment amounts and eligibility requirements.”
• President Trump [01:09]: Announces, “Our plan would reduce your insurance premiums by stopping government payoffs to big insurance companies and sending the money directly to the people.”

3. Historic Inauguration in Virginia

• Paul Stevens [01:33]: Reports Abigail Spanberger’s inauguration as Virginia’s first female governor.
  • Marks a turning point: “Spanberger’s inauguration will mark a new chapter in that state with Democrats pulling all the levers of power in Virginia state government.”

4. Tylenol & Autism Study Debunked

• Paul Stevens [02:32]: Introduces new research on Tylenol safety in pregnancy, pushing back against the Trump Administration’s earlier claims.
• Deborah Valentine [02:40]: Cites a research review in The Lancet finding no increased risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disabilities from prenatal Tylenol use, directly challenging prior assertions by President Trump.

5. Charlie Kirk Shooting Case Update

• Paul Stevens [03:15]: Announces court proceedings related to the alleged assassin of Charlie Kirk.
• Chanley Painter [03:23]: Describes the defense’s attempt to get the Utah county attorney’s office disqualified due to a potential conflict of interest—the prosecutor’s own child was present at the event where Kirk was shot. Details the court’s denial of this request.

6. Michael Cohen’s Claims About Trump Investigations

• Paul Stevens [04:00]: Reports that Michael Cohen alleges prosecutors from both the Manhattan DA’s and NY Attorney General’s offices “pressured and coerced” him to deliver testimony against President Trump.
  • Cohen was “a key prosecution witness in two New York cases against the president.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Governor Tim Walz [00:17]:
  • “Weaponizing the Justice System against your opponents is an authoritarian tactic.”
  • “The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Goode is the federal agent who shot her.”
• DHS Secretary Trisha McLaughlin [00:39]:
  • “Despite these grave threats and dangerous situations, our law enforcement has followed their training and used the minimum amount of force necessary to protect themselves, the public and federal property.”
• President Trump [01:09]:
  • “Our plan would reduce your insurance premiums by stopping government payoffs to big insurance companies and sending the money directly to the people.”
• Deborah Valentine [02:40]:
  • “The research review published Friday in The Lancet… finds taking Tylenol during pregnancy does not increase the risk of autism, ADHD or intellectual disabilities.”
• Chanley Painter [03:23]:
  • “The 22-year-old alleged assassin showed no emotion in court as his lawyers urged the Utah county attorney's office cannot be trusted…”
  • Defense argues close ties between prosecutor and key witness present a conflict.
• Paul Stevens [04:00]:
  • Michael Cohen claims prosecutors “pressured and coerced” him to deliver “testimony tailored to secure convictions against Trump.”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:02] — Federal investigation into Governor Walz and Mayor Frey
• [00:17] — Responses from Fry, Walz, and DHS Secretary on civil rights, law enforcement, and protests
• [00:59] — President Trump’s health care proposal and commentary
• [01:33] — Abigail Spanberger becomes Virginia's first female governor
• [02:32] — New Tylenol/autism study findings; Trump administration’s prior claims rebutted
• [03:15] — Update on Charlie Kirk murder case and defense motion in court
• [04:00] — Michael Cohen claims prosecutor misconduct in Trump cases

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Summary

This episode delivers rapid updates on federal probes into immigration issues, evolving court restrictions on law enforcement, major health care policy announcements, a milestone in Virginia politics, a new debunking of controversial medical claims, legal drama in a nationally watched murder trial, and a dramatic claim from a Trump associate about prosecutorial misconduct. The reporting is brisk, with clear separation of fact, official response, and analysis, offering a snapshot of the current U.S. political and legal landscape.

Transcript

[Paul Stevens]

More federal pressure. I'm Paul Stevens, Fox News. The Justice Department is reportedly investigating Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry over whether their comments were interfering with immigration efforts in Minneapolis.

[Matt Finn]

Mayor Fry says the probe is meant to intimidate him. Governor Walz responded in part. Weaponizing the justice system against your opponents is an authoritarian tactic. The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Goode is the federal agent who shot her. And now a US District judge appointed by Biden has ruled that officers cannot use tear gas on protesters who are peacefully demonstrating following a civil rights lawsuit. DHS Secretary Trisha McLaughlin says these protesters are not peaceful. Writing despite these grave threats and dangerous situations, our law enforcement has followed their training and used the minimum amount of force necessary to protect themselves, the public and federal property.

[Paul Stevens]

And that's fox's Matt Finn. The president pitching some new health care proposals.

[Jared Halpern]

President Trump's great health care plan, as he calls it, would eliminate federal dollars subsidizing insurers and instead create health savings accounts backed by the federal government.

[Paul Stevens]

Our plan would reduce your insurance premiums by stopping government payoffs to big insurance companies and sending the money directly to the people.

[Jared Halpern]

The president says his plan would also codify prescription drug price agreements and enhance fraud safeguards. But the framework leaves a lot of details to be ironed out by lawmakers, including payment amounts and eligibility requirements. At the White House, Jared Halpern, FOX News.

[Paul Stevens]

Abigail Spanberger set to take Virgin his top office today, becoming the first female governor to lead that state. She'll be sworn in during a midday inauguration ceremony in front of the state Capitol in Richmond. Spanberger's inauguration will mark a new chapter in that state with Democrats pulling all the levers of power in Virginia state government. America is listening to FOX News.

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[Paul Stevens]

Some new research out there bolsters evidence that Tylenol does not raise the risk of autism despite claims by the Trump administration.

[Deborah Valentine]

The research review published Friday in the Lancet Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health. It finds taking Tylenol during pregnancy does not increase the risk of autism, ADHD or intellectual disabilities. Last year, President Trump promoted ties between Tylenol and autism, advising pregnant women not to take it. One of the papers cited on its webpage, published in BMC Environmental Health, analyzed 46 previous studies. It supported an association between Tylenol exposure during pregnancy and neurotransmitters, neurodevelopmental disorders. Deborah Valentine, FOX News.

[Paul Stevens]

Charlie Kirk's alleged assassin appearing in court as his lawyers pushed to disqualify the entire prosecution team from that murder case.

[Chanley Painter]

The 22 year old alleged assassin showed no emotion in court as his lawyers urged the Utah county attorney's office cannot be trusted to represent themselves in a motion that aims to disqualify them in the case. At issue, the adult child of an unnamed senior prosecutor who was at the campus event in September where Charlie Kirk was shot and killed. After the deadly shooting, the 18th texted a group chat that included the prosecutor father saying things like, I'm okay. Everyone is going inside. Charlie got shot. To which the father responded, oh, my gosh. So in its motion, the defense claims the close connection raises serious concerns about prosecutorial decision making.

[Paul Stevens]

And that's fox's Chanley Painter, the judge ultimately denying that request. President Trump's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, now saying the prosecutors in both the Manhattan DA's office and the New York attorney general's office, quote, pressured and coerced, unquote, him into delivering, delivering testimony tailored to secure convictions against Trump. Cohen was a key prosecution witness in two New York cases against the president. I'm Paul Stevens. This is FOX News.

[Chanley Painter]

This is Ainsley Earhart.

[Deborah Valentine]

Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of.

[Matt Finn]

Jesus, a listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told.

[Paul Stevens]

Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.