Podcast Summary
Podcast: Fox News Hourly Update
Episode: President Trump Choosing Kevin Warsh to Lead the Federal Reserve
Date: January 30, 2026
Host: FOX News Podcasts
Episode Overview
This episode provides a rapid update on major news stories, focusing primarily on President Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve. The update also covers new developments in the Don Lemon arrest, ongoing immigration protests and government shutdown drama in Congress, severe winter weather impacts, and US-Canada trade tensions, plus a sports headline on the eve of the Winter Olympics.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. President Trump Nominates Kevin Warsh for Federal Reserve Chair
- [00:03] Host Dave Anthony opens with the major headline: President Trump will nominate former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh to replace current chair Jerome Powell in May.
- Trump previously called for "regime change at the Fed," criticizing Powell for not cutting interest rates faster, claiming Powell has hurt the economy.
- [00:21] FOX Business’s Edward Lawrence reports on Trump’s Truth Social post:
- Trump says Warsh will be "one of the greatest Federal Reserve chairmans," describing him as "right out of central casting" and vows "he will never let you down."
- Analytically, Warsh is known as an "inflation hawk" (supported higher rates in 2008), in contrast to what Trump wants now, but Warsh "says that he’s evolved," indicating a shift in his views.
Notable Quotes:
"He will go down as one of the greatest Federal Reserve chairmans. He's right out of central casting and he will never let you down."
— President Trump, relayed by Edward Lawrence [00:21]
"[Warsh] advocated heavily for rate hikes during the housing crisis of 2008, which is opposite of what President Trump is looking for right now with his pick. But recently he says that Warsh now...his views have changed."
— Edward Lawrence [00:31]
2. Don Lemon Arrested Amid First Amendment Controversy
- [00:45] Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested by federal agents in Los Angeles, after midnight, at a hotel.
- The arrest is connected to a protest involving the "storming of a church" in St. Paul, MN.
- Don Lemon’s attorney claims Lemon was "shining a light on truth" and calls the arrest "an attack on the First Amendment." [01:02]
- Three others involved in the protest had already been arrested and charged.
Notable Quotes:
"The journalist was shining a light on truth and this is an attack on the First Amendment."
— Don Lemon's attorney, via Bill Melugin [01:02]
3. Immigration Protests & ICE Enforcement
- [01:02] Continuing anger over immigration enforcement, shootings tied to enforcement, and ICE protests:
- Advocacy groups encourage a national "ICE out"—urging Americans to skip work, school, and shopping in protest.
- [01:25] Congressman Tom Emmer (R-MN) comments:
- He dismisses the notion of such protests spreading widely, insisting, "Most cities are cooperating with law enforcement."
Notable Quotes:
"This type of rhetoric. And by the way, this is coming to your city next. No, it's not. Because most cities are cooperating with law enforcement."
— Rep. Tom Emmer [01:25]
4. Looming Government Shutdown Over Homeland Security
- [01:35] House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D) tells FOX:
- Priority is to avoid a shutdown, but stresses the need for "dramatic" changes to the Department of Homeland Security's operations.
- Partial government shutdown deadline looms at midnight; a compromise is possible but still uncertain.
Notable Quotes:
"We want to avoid a government shutdown, but it's necessary to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security dramatically changes the way in which it has been conducting itself."
— Rep. Hakeem Jeffries [01:39]
5. Extreme Winter Weather & Health Dangers
- [02:16] Cleanup continues from a massive snow and ice storm; another storm is on the way, targeting the Carolinas and up to Virginia.
- Winter storm warnings and up to a half foot of new snow expected; over 200,000 power outages linger in the South, with ongoing dangerously cold temperatures.
- [02:41] FOX’s Eben Brown warns:
- Residents in affected southern states face hypothermia risks.
- Extended exposure to cold—especially without power—is deadly, even for healthy people.
- Generator safety issued: deadly carbon monoxide risks if not run outdoors.
6. US-Canada Tensions & Alberta Secession Rumblings
- [03:25] President Trump threatens tariffs on countries selling oil to Cuba.
- US-Canada trade relations remain tense. Alberta separatists want to leave Canada and have appealed to Trump for $500 billion in credit to back prospective independence—a move largely unsupported by the public or acknowledged by Canada’s PM.
- Canadian PM Mark Carney expects US "to respect Canadian sovereignty," notes Trump never discussed Alberta independence directly with him.
7. Stock Market and Olympics Update
- [04:02] Stock futures are down ahead of the opening bell.
- With the Winter Olympics approaching, American skier Lindsey Vonn was injured during a practice run. No details yet on the severity.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Trump’s showman endorsement of Kevin Warsh:
"He will go down as one of the greatest Federal Reserve chairmans. He's right out of central casting and he will never let you down." [00:21] - Don Lemon’s first amendment defense:
"The journalist was shining a light on truth and this is an attack on the First Amendment." [01:02] - Congressman Emmer dismisses national ICE protests:
"No, it's not. Because most cities are cooperating with law enforcement." [01:25] - Hakeem Jeffries on shutdown brinkmanship:
"It's necessary to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security dramatically changes the way in which it has been conducting itself." [01:39]
Timestamps of Major Segments
- [00:03] Trump’s Fed pick: Kevin Warsh announced
- [00:31] Analysis of Warsh’s economic philosophy
- [00:45] Don Lemon arrested over church protest
- [01:02] National ICE protests and lawmaker reactions
- [01:39] Shutdown standoff explained
- [02:16] Winter storm updates and health advisories
- [03:25] US-Canada trade tensions & Alberta independence
- [04:02] Markets and Olympic injury news
Conclusion
The episode delivers a fast-paced rundown of breaking news, with its top focus on President Trump’s dramatic nomination of Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve, suggesting possible shifts in monetary policy ahead. Arrests over high-profile protests, threats of a government shutdown, ongoing severe weather impacts, and tense North American economic relations round out this high-tempo briefing, all before the business day begins.
