Podcast Summary: Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis – TPM Edition

Episode Date: September 19, 2025 | Published: September 20, 2025
Host: Bill O’Reilly

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the aftermath of the assassination of Charlie Kirk and its seismic impact on American media, political discourse, and freedom of speech. Bill O’Reilly discusses the amplification of hatred by the progressive left, escalating “cancel culture,” the ramifications for free speech, and the recent high-profile firings in media—including columnists and late-night hosts—framing them as signals of a broader cultural and ideological reckoning.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Media Chasm and Amplification of Hatred

[01:18–08:40]

• O’Reilly introduces the "growing chasm" in America, focusing on how hate is magnified by the media landscape.
• He responds to an email from Ken in NYC, who accuses “Trump and MAGA” of contributing equally to political chaos.
• O’Reilly rebuts this with a focus on media amplification, stating the progressive left’s message is far more widespread due to dominance by five major networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC) and “five to one” social media advantage.
  • Quote:

    “Any kind of hatred is amplified at a much greater level on the progressive left, again, you can’t refute. It is absolutely true.” (Bill O’Reilly, [05:00])

• He argues that while extremists exist in both parties, the left’s voices dominate due to bigger platforms and financial backing.
• O’Reilly likens the progressive movement to the rabble-rousers of the American Revolution, but claims their agitation is far more widely broadcast.
  • Quote:

    “So if you are an unstable, mentally ill person and you live in the progressive world, you are constantly agitated. That’s what happened to Utah… and boom. He splits, he breaks. Same thing with the kid in Butler… Try to kill President Trump.” ([07:30])

2. Cancel Culture Hits the Right

[08:45–10:18]

• O’Reilly points out a shift: some right-wing activists are now participating in cancel culture, celebrating firings and engaging in employer callouts following Kirk’s murder.
• He criticizes both the left and right for celebrating death or job loss, calling it “atrocious.”
  • Quote:

    “I think that it is absolutely atrocious that anyone would celebrate the death of Charlie Kirk or any other person unless that person were Hitler or Stalin… But there’s a degree.” ([09:34])

• Plays Vice President Vance’s comments urging people to call out and call employers of those celebrating Kirk’s murder, but cautions listeners to avoid rumor and personal revenge:
  • Quote (Vance):

    “When you see someone celebrating Charlie’s murder, call them out in hell. Call their employer… Get involved, get involved, get involved.” ([09:58])

  • O’Reilly:

    “Be careful because dishonest people can use that cancel culture for revenge, for denial of due process, for rumor.” ([10:18])

3. The Far-Left Under Fire: High-Profile Firings in Media

[15:13–19:41]

• Discusses the recent firings of media figures (e.g., MSNBC’s Matthew Dowd and Washington Post’s Karen Attia) for controversial comments regarding Kirk’s murder.
  • Quote:

    “She had been there 10 years… African American woman. You fire her now… for gross misconduct. Your public comments... violate the Post social media policies, harm integrity… endanger physical safety.” ([16:47])

• Frames these events as “the far left under notice,” observing more caution and defensiveness among progressive media personalities.
• Notes that cancel culture now cuts both ways:
  • Quote (Brian Stelter):

    “This is a new form of cancel culture. You know, something that the right complained about when, you know, they were saying the left was targeting people four, five, six years ago. The truth is cancel culture never goes away.” ([15:16])

• O’Reilly recounts his own targeting by cancel culture and exclusion of conservative/traditional voices from major network platforms for a decade.
  • Quote:

    "All the networks, all three have excluded traditional conservative voices for the past, what, 10 years since Trump entered the arena. Couldn't get on there." ([15:29])

4. The First Amendment and the Limits of Speech

[19:46–26:45]

• O’Reilly expresses concern over abuses of free speech, citing confusion over the First Amendment’s scope after Kirk’s assassination.
• Outlines Attorney General Pam Bondi’s tough approach to “hate speech,” clarifies that only speech directly inciting violence is unprotected.
• Plays Bondi’s comments and emphasizes the legal standard: causality must be proven for the Justice Department to intervene.
  • Quote:

    “There has to be what they call ‘cause and effect.’ You say something and that puts a person in danger or harms that person in some way, the line has got to be direct…” ([22:12])

• Discusses media’s (both left and right) desire to fundamentally change or defend the current system, with the left accused of amplifying hate against Trump.
  • Quote:

    “The leftist media… wants to change the country, all right? They don't like the country the way it is, and they want fundamental changes.” ([24:21])

5. Media Bias and Platform Exclusion

[26:45–31:21]

• Focuses on the exclusion of conservative/traditional voices from mainstream platforms:
  • Whoopi Goldberg: O’Reilly accuses The View of not inviting conservative guests.
    • Quote:

      “Not on the View. Not one. I used to go on there all the time. I'm not conservative, but I certainly lean traditional when Barbara Walters is running the show.” ([27:54])

  • Critiques the lack of true free speech in spaces where dissenting views are structurally uninvited or censored:
    • Quote:

      “If you can't say in a forum, which you'd like to say, you don't have freedom of speech.” ([28:41])

• Shares his rare recent appearance on CBS, crediting a corporate management change with breaking the pattern of exclusion.

6. The Dismissal of Jimmy Kimmel

[33:10–44:35]

• Analyzes the firing of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel as a case study in the consequences of partisan media and the perils of becoming “consumed with hatred.”
• Explains that a revolt among ABC’s affiliate networks forced Disney to act, following outrage over Kimmel’s remarks tying MAGA to Kirk’s assassination—a connection O’Reilly calls defamatory and untrue.
  • Quote:

    “You can't say on your program that MAGA people are somewhat responsible for the assassination of Charlie Kirk. That's defamatory. It's a lie. It's not even close to being funny. What the deuce are you doing?” ([36:49])

• Describes the media licensing structure—networks are public airwaves and thus accountable to federal standards, in contrast to cable and social media.
• Reflects on his past cordial relationship with Kimmel and denounces the personal cost of letting “hatred” consume public figures:
  • Quote:

    “Every human being who's consumed by hatred goes down. Everyone. And that's what happened to Jimmy Kimmel.” ([44:40])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On media amplification:

  “You can always find somebody worse or said something. Nothing comes of whataboutism. It is lazy. It is fifth grade.” (Bill O’Reilly, [02:30])

• On cancel culture across the spectrum:

  “Cancel culture never goes away. It just changes shape.” (Brian Stelter, [15:16])

• On exclusion from media:

  "All three have excluded traditional conservative voices for the past… since Trump entered the arena. Couldn't get on there." ([15:29])

• On the First Amendment line:

  “It can't be an opinion. It's got to be a threat.” ([30:31])

• On Jimmy Kimmel’s downfall:

  “Donald Trump destroyed Jimmy Kimmel’s career. …You don't have to be obsessed. And Jimmy Kimmel became obsessed with Donald Trump.” ([33:40])

• Reflecting on his own past with Kimmel:

  "He was very nice to me and my staff… This was before the rise of Donald Trump." ([42:55])

• Final thought:

  "Every human being who's consumed by hatred goes down. Everyone." ([44:40])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:18] – O’Reilly introduces the theme: media’s amplification of hatred after Kirk assassination
• [05:00] – Unrefutable claim of progressive left’s amplification advantages
• [09:58] – Vice President Vance calls for employer reprisals against celebrators (cancel culture discussion)
• [15:13] – Brian Stelter’s take on right-wing cancel culture
• [16:47] – Karen Attia’s firing and O’Reilly’s commentary
• [19:46] – Free speech and the First Amendment under scrutiny post-assassination
• [22:12] – Legal line between hate speech and crime (Pam Bondi)
• [27:54] – O’Reilly accuses The View of silencing conservatives
• [31:21] – CBS management change—a rare interview opportunity
• [33:10] – Discussion of Jimmy Kimmel’s ousting
• [36:49] – O’Reilly: “You can't say… MAGA people are responsible for the assassination of Charlie Kirk”
• [44:40] – Reflection on the dangers of hatred in public life

Tone & Language

O’Reilly’s language is direct, emphatic, and combative—both analytical and personal, mixing anecdote, historical reference, and rhetorical flourish. He grounds arguments in his experience, leverages notable quotes and media clips, and is unyielding in his critique of progressive media dominance and partisan hate, while also cautioning against excesses from the right.

This summary captures O’Reilly’s perspective and major argument threads, providing clear context for each major story, and spotlighting the episode’s memorable moments and most significant passages.