The Desperate Search Continues for the Missing Mother of a Host of The "Today" Show

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – February 3, 2026

Episode: The Desperate Search Continues for the Missing Mother of a Host of The "Today" Show
Host: Dave Anthony (with reporting from Alicia Cunha, Bill Melugin, Ryan Schmelz, Jonathan Savage, Eben Brown)
Theme: A fast-moving roundup of top news stories, headlined by the search for Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie, and major national and international developments.

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on the search for Nancy Guthrie, believed to be kidnapped from her Tucson, Arizona home. The episode then moves quickly through several significant stories, including the government shutdown, Clinton-Epstein investigation, ongoing conflict in Ukraine, diplomatic outreach from Iran, US-Colombia relations, a NASA mission delay, and economic news.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Desperate Search for Nancy Guthrie

• [00:03] Dave Anthony opens with the urgent question: “Where is she?” referencing Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. Guthrie, the mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie, is believed to have been abducted from her home Saturday night.
• [00:16] Alicia Cunha reports from Tucson, quoting Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos: evidence from inside the home indicates abduction during the night—Nancy was likely asleep and possibly harmed.
• [00:29] Details: Nancy's medication, wallet, and phone were left behind, suggesting an unwilling departure. Sheriff Nanos officially classifies the home as a crime scene.
• Quote:
  • “She was sleeping at the time she was kidnapped and likely harmed.” — Alicia Cunha, quoting Sheriff Nano [00:16]
• Savannah Guthrie statement: “They believe in prayer and goodness.” — Dave Anthony [00:03]

2. Partial Government Shutdown & Funding Deal Efforts

• [00:39] Day four of the partial federal government shutdown.
• [00:44] Bill Melugin outlines a possible resolution: Republicans push for a procedural vote to advance a Senate funding compromise covering most federal functions until September and two weeks for Homeland Security.
• [01:00] House Democrats, including Rep. Jim McGovern, continue to demand reforms for ICE before agreeing to further funding.
  • Quote:
    • “I refuse to fund such a lawless, out of control agency.” — Congressman Jim McGovern [01:00]
• Anti-ICE protests have intensified in Minneapolis due to recent deadly shootings. DHS requires body cameras for all agents there.

3. Clinton Deposition & the Epstein Investigation

• [01:30] Bill Melugin updates: The House delayed a contempt vote on Bill and Hillary Clinton after they agreed to closed-door depositions about Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking investigation.
  • Chairman James Comer: Details being negotiated; contempt proceedings still possible.

4. Ukraine: Russian Bombardment Continues

• [01:48] Ryan Schmelz: Russia launched new strikes in Ukraine despite ongoing U.S. efforts to broker a ceasefire.
  • Ukraine suffers power and heat outages; President Zelensky says, “they’re terrorizing people in the cold days of winter.”

5. Iran’s Diplomatic Shift

• [02:31] Jonathan Savage covers a diplomatic development: Iran’s president calls for “fair and equitable negotiations” with the U.S.
  • The move is seen as a reversal, and, per analysts, likely had the blessing of Supreme Leader Khamenei.
  • Quote:
    • “It’s an about turn for the reformist president, but analysts say he must have received the blessing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.” — Jonathan Savage [02:40]

6. US-Colombia Relations and Venezuelan Fallout

• [03:09] Dave Anthony: President Trump to meet Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro after hinting at possible military action post-U.S. raid in Venezuela, which led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro (now jailed in New York).
  • Trump: “We’re going to be talking about drugs because tremendous amounts of drugs come out of his country.”

7. NASA Artemis 2: Moon Mission Delay

• [03:36] Eben Brown in Miami: NASA cancels this weekend’s Artemis 2 launch after a fueling rehearsal uncovered leaks in cold weather in Florida.
  • New target window: March 6.
  • The mission will use the Orion capsule, aiming to send astronauts further from Earth than ever before.

8. Delayed Jobs Report due to Shutdown

• [04:13] Dave Anthony: The jobs report, including unemployment rate data, delayed due to the government shutdown. Stocks open mixed: “Down a bit for the Dow. Up for the Nasdaq.”

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Memorable Quotes & Segment Timestamps

• “[Nancy Guthrie] was sleeping at the time she was kidnapped and likely harmed.”
  — Alicia Cunha [00:16]
• “They believe in prayer and goodness.”
  — Savannah Guthrie’s statement, relayed by Dave Anthony [00:03]
• “I refuse to fund such a lawless, out of control agency.”
  — Congressman Jim McGovern [01:00]
• “It’s an about turn for the reformist president, but analysts say he must have received the blessing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.”
  — Jonathan Savage [02:40]
• “We’re going to be talking about drugs because tremendous amounts of drugs come out of his country.”
  — President Trump (via Dave Anthony) [03:09]

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Structure & Flow

• The episode begins with the personal and urgent story of a missing person, tying in national concern due to the victim’s family connection to a public figure.
• Rapidly transitions across domestic politics (government funding, ICE protests), high-stakes investigations (Clinton/Epstein), global conflicts (Ukraine and Russia), diplomatic shifts (Iran), Latin American affairs, science and technology (NASA’s Artemis 2), and economic updates.
• The tone is urgent and concise, reflecting a fast-paced news update format.

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Useful for Listeners

This summary captures each major segment of the hourly briefing, highlighting key updates for listeners wanting a quick yet rich understanding of today’s breaking news, from a developing abduction case to global diplomatic maneuvers, all delivered in the brisk FOX News Radio style.

Transcript

[Dave Anthony]

Where is she? I'm Dave Anthony, FOX News. That's the big question in Arizona where the worry grows for Nancy Guthrie, believed abducted Saturday night. She's the mother of today's show host Savannah Guthrie, who in a statement says they believe in prayer and goodness.

[Alicia Cunha]

The Pima County Sheriff Chris Nano says it's what investigators found inside Nancy Guthrie's home that leads them to believe she was abducted, that she was sleeping at the time she was kidnapped and likely harmed.

[Dave Anthony]

Fox's Alicia Cunha in Tucson.

[Alicia Cunha]

Sheriff Nano says Nancy Guthrie's medication, wallet and phone were found inside the home here on the northeast part of Tucson. Sheriff Nano says the house is a crime scene.

[Dave Anthony]

It's day four, the partial government shutdown and it may be the last trying to approve a Senate funding compromise.

[Bill Malusion]

So here's where things stand right now. If Republicans can pass a procedural vote today, they can bring this package of five government spending bills to the House floor where it would be expected to pass even with some Democratic votes now. That would then end the shutdown today once it got to President Trump's death.

[Dave Anthony]

Fox's Bill Malusion the Capitol. While that funding lasts through September from a most of the government, it's only two weeks worth for Homeland Security. Democrats including Congressman Jim McGovern demand ICE be reformed and I refuse to fund such a lawless, out of control agency. After all the anti ICE demonstrations that got angrier in Minneapolis following two deadly shootings and now the head of Homeland Security says all agents there will wear body cameras. The House has delayed a vote to hold the Clintons in contempt of Congress for not cooperating in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation.

[Bill Malusion]

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to sit for a closed door deposition with the House Oversight Committee. Chairman James Comer says details on the potential agreement are still being worked out. And until then, contempt proceedings against the former first couple are still on the table.

[Dave Anthony]

Fox's Ryan Schmell's Russia's gone on the attack again in Ukraine despite US Talks to stop the war. The overnight bombardment cut off electricity and heat for some. Ukraine's president says they're terrorizing people in the cold days of winter. America's listening to.

[Alicia Cunha]

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[Dave Anthony]

Iran wants to talk. The country's president directing his foreign minister to pursue fair and equitable negotiations with.

[Jonathan Savage]

The US that's according to his post on X in which he says the decision comes after requests from regional allies to respond to the proposal by President Trump. It's an about turn for the reformist president, but analysts say he must have received the blessing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. As part of a buildup of forces, the US Sent its aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln to the region, Ayatollah Khamenei warning of a risk of regional war. Jonathan Savage, FOX News.

[Dave Anthony]

Well, in two hours, President Trump will hold talks with Colombia's leader Gustavo Petro after also hinting at military action in that country following US Raid in Venezuela a month ago that captured leader Nicolas Maduro, now jailed in New York on terror and drug charges. I look forward to seeing him. He's coming in. We're going to be talking about drugs because tremendous amounts of drugs come out of his country. NASA has sent astronauts who'd been in quarantine since last month getting ready for a moon mission back home for now.

[Eben Brown]

Artemis 2 was due to launch this weekend, sending a crew of four astronauts to orbit the moon. But following Monday's fueling rehearsal, the space agency decided to hold off for now. NASA administrator Jared Isaacman says fuel leaks were detected during the rehearsal, which was taking place during unusually cold weather in Florida. They will now target a launch window opening March 6. Artemis 2 will make use of NASA's new crew vehicle, the Orion capsule. The crew is expected to fly lunar orbits and to a distant away from Earth no human has ever reached before. In Miami, Eben Brown, FOX News.

[Dave Anthony]

Well, now something else delayed. The jobs report, which includes the unemployment rate, won't come out Friday as had been planned, pushed back by that government shutdown on Wall Street. Stock futures are mixed before the opening bell. Down a bit for the Dow. Up for the nasdaq, I'm Dave Anthony and this is FOX News.

[Alicia Cunha]

This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of.

[Dave Anthony]

Jesus, a listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever. Follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.