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Fox News Hourly Update – February 16, 2026

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This Fox News Hourly Update covers breaking developments about the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, including President Trump’s stern warning to the perpetrators. The episode also highlights major national and international headlines: U.S. military involvement in Nigeria, the U.S. women’s hockey team’s Olympic victory, an update on Marjorie Taylor Greene’s vacant House seat, Iran nuclear talks, and other significant world news.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump Issues Dire Warning in Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Case

[00:03] Chris Foster reports that President Trump, in an interview with the New York Post, pledges to direct the Department of Justice to pursue the federal death penalty if Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, “is not returned unharmed.”
- It is day 16 of the ongoing search in Arizona.
- Frustration is mounting among both local and federal law enforcement. The Pima County Sheriff's Office leads the investigation with support from the FBI.
- Tension is "palpable" among law enforcement sources.
Notable Quote:

“President Trump tells the New York Post he'll instruct the Justice Department to pursue the federal death penalty if Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie's mother is not returned unharmed.”
— Chris Foster, [00:04]

2. President's Day History and Observance

[00:34] Kristen Goodwin explains the historical evolution of the federal holiday now largely known as President’s Day:
- Began as George Washington’s birthday commemoration.
- Became a federal bank holiday in 1879.
- Moved to the third Monday in February in 1968 under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act for more three-day weekends.
Notable Quote:

“It started out in the late 1700s as a way to commemorate the first President George Washington’s birthday… In 1968… Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday act, moving the date… to the third Monday of February.”
— Kristen Goodwin, [00:34]

3. Obama Clarifies Alien Comments

[01:03] After making remarks on a podcast about extraterrestrials, former President Obama takes to Instagram to clarify:
- On the podcast, he had said, “they’re real, but I have not seen them and they’re not being kept in Area 51.”
- On Instagram, Obama adds:
  - It’s statistically likely that life exists elsewhere in the universe given its vastness.
  - He saw no proof of alien contact during his presidency.
Notable Quote:

“Statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good that there’s life out there. But he saw no proof of contact during his presidency.”
— Angelo Pavaro, [01:10]

4. U.S. Troops Arrive in Nigeria; Trump Comments on Religious Persecution

[01:33] About 100 U.S. troops arrive in Nigeria to help train local soldiers:
- Requested by the Nigerian government for training, technical support, and intelligence.
- President Trump criticizes Nigeria amid allegations the government is not protecting Christian citizens.

5. U.S. Women’s Hockey Team Advances to Olympic Gold Medal Game

[01:33] The team defeats Sweden 5-0, moving on to the final.

6. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s House Seat – Special Election

[02:04] Early voting begins for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District after Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned following a dispute with President Trump.
- 20 candidates from various parties are competing.
- Election Day: March 10.
- Possible Runoff: April 7, if no candidate secures more than half the vote.
Notable Quote:

“There are 20 candidates of varying party affiliation on the ballot. Election day is March 10, with a runoff possible on April 7 if no candidate earns more than half of all votes cast.”
— Evan Brown, [02:20]

7. Iran Nuclear Talks Resume

[02:45] Iran’s top diplomat meets with the UN nuclear watchdog and prepares for U.S. negotiations in Geneva, mediated by Oman:
- Focus: Iran’s nuclear program, uranium enrichment, and ballistic missiles.
- Iran’s deputy foreign minister shows willingness to compromise if U.S. lifts sanctions.
Notable Quotes:

“The Iranian deputy foreign minister said over the weekend that the regime would be open to compromise on nuclear issues if the US lifts sanctions.”
— Dana Marie McNichol, [03:10]

8. Israeli TV Producer Dana Eden’s Sudden Death in Greece

[03:22] Reports deny rumors of Iranian involvement in Dana Eden’s death.
- Eden, successful Israeli TV producer, died in a Greek hotel while filming “Tehran.”
- Case currently treated as a suicide; investigation continues.
- She was 52.

9. North Korea Unveils New Housing for War Dead’s Families

[03:57] Kim Jong Un celebrates the completion of a new Pyongyang residential district.
- Housing reserved for families of North Koreans killed while “fighting for Russia and Ukraine.”
- Kim pledges to “repay the young martyrs who sacrificed all to their motherland.”

Memorable Moments & Quotes

| Time | Speaker | Quote / Moment | |-----------|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:04 | Chris Foster | “President Trump tells the New York Post he'll instruct the Justice Department to pursue the federal death penalty if Today show co host Savannah Guthrie's mother is not returned unharmed.” | | 00:34 | Kristen Goodwin | “It started out in the late 1700s as a way to commemorate the first President George Washington’s birthday…” | | 01:10 | Angelo Pavaro | “Statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good that there’s life out there. But he saw no proof of contact during his presidency.” | | 02:20 | Evan Brown | “There are 20 candidates of varying party affiliation on the ballot. Election day is March 10, with a runoff possible on April 7 if no candidate earns more than half of all votes cast.” | | 03:10 | Dana Marie McNichol | “The Iranian deputy foreign minister said over the weekend that the regime would be open to compromise on nuclear issues if the US lifts sanctions.” |

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:03 – Trump’s warning in Nancy Guthrie kidnapping
00:34 – President’s Day history
01:03 – Obama on aliens clarified
01:33 – U.S. troops in Nigeria, Olympic women’s hockey
02:04 – Georgia special election
02:45 – Iran nuclear talks
03:22 – Dana Eden death investigation
03:57 – North Korean residential project

This episode provided rapid but clear coverage of the nation’s most pressing headlines, with major focus on Trump’s response to the kidnapping case, fresh political developments, and ongoing international tensions.

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Transcript19 lines

[00:03]
A
A warning for whoever took Nancy Guthrie. I'm Chris Foster. Fox News President Trump tells the New York Post he'll instruct the Justice Department to pursue the federal death penalty if Today show co host Savannah Guthrie's mother is not returned unharmed. It's day 16 of the search in Arizona. There is frustration among law enforcement, both local and federal. It's really palpable in speaking with sources. The Pima County Sheriff's Office still leading this investigation, but the FBI still continues to be involved. Fox's David Spunt the the official holiday on the federal calendar today is Washington's birthday. It's become more commonly known as President's Day.
[00:34]
B
It started out in the late 1700s as a way to commemorate the first President George Washington's birthday on February 22nd. It officially became known as a federal bank holiday in 1879. But in 1968, as part of an effort to move federal holidays to Mondays, giving folks more three day weekends, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday act, moving the date of the celebration from Washington's actual birthday to the third Monday of February.
[01:03]
A
Fox's Kristen Goodwin after causing some excitement, former President Obama is clarifying something he said on a podcast about aliens being real.
[01:11]
C
During a lightning round of questions, the former president was asked if aliens were real. He responded with, they're real, but I have not seen them and they're not being kept in Area 51. In a post on Instagram clearing things up, Obama said statistically the universe is so vast that the odds are good that there's life out there. But he saw no proof of contact during his presidency.
[01:33]
A
That's Fox's Angelo Pavaro. About 100 U.S. troops are reported to have arrived in Nigeria to help train soldiers there. Nigeria's military says the government requested help with training, technical support and intelligence sharing. President Trump has threatened Nigeria over allegations that the government there is not protecting its Christian citizens. The U.S. women's hockey team advances to the gold medal game at the Olympics, beating Sweden 5 nothing. America's listening to Fox News.
[02:00]
B
This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of.
[02:05]
A
Jesus, a listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow now@foxnewspodcasts.com or wherever you listen to podcasts. Early voting starts today in the special election to fill Marjorie Taylor Greene's Georgia House seat.
[02:21]
D
The Republican resigned from the U.S. house of Representatives in January after a public falling out with President Trump. The Georgia 14th is located in the northwestern part of the state, including the cities of Rome and Dalton. There are 20 candidates of varying party affiliation on the ballot. Election day is March 10, with a runoff possible on April 7 if no candidate earns more than half of all votes cast.
[02:45]
A
Fox's Evan Brown, Iran's top diplomat, has held talks with the United nations nuclear watchdog ahead of a second round of negotiations tomorrow with the US In Geneva, Switzerland, with Oman acting as mediator.
[02:57]
B
These conversations are expected to focus mainly on Iran's nuclear program, uranium enrichment and.
[03:04]
E
Iran's ballistic missile program.
[03:06]
B
The Iranian deputy foreign minister said over the weekend that the regime would be.
[03:10]
E
Open to compromise on nuclear issues if.
[03:13]
B
The US lifts sanctions.
[03:15]
A
Foxes Dana Marie McNichol, an Israeli TV and film production company denies rumors that Iranian agents killed one of its founders.
[03:22]
E
Award winning Israeli producer Dana Eden has died suddenly in Greece, where she was filming season four of Apple TV spy thriller Tehran.
[03:32]
A
Rasheem will be looking for me.
[03:36]
E
No cause of death has been confirmed as of yet for Eden. According to Hebrew Media, which was quoted by the Times of Israel. Eden was found lifeless in in an Athens hotel Sunday by her brother, Reuters reporting the case is being treated as a suicide based on evidence and testimonies. An investigation continues. Eden was 52.
[03:57]
A
It's Fox's Lilian Wu. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was there for the completion of a new residential district in Pyongyang with housing for families of soldiers killed fighting for Russia and Ukraine. He pledged to repay the young martyrs who sacrificed all to their motherland. I'm Chris Foster, Fox News.