No Spin News - Weekend Edition - April 5, 2025

Summary

Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis: Weekend Edition - April 5, 2025

Release Date: April 5, 2025

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1. Introduction to the Episode

In the April 5, 2025, episode of Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis, host Bill O’Reilly delves into the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and major media corporations, focusing particularly on the implications of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. The episode features insightful discussions with Bernard Goldberg and an interview with Congressman Ro Khanna, addressing the multifaceted impacts of DEI on both the private sector and broader American society.

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2. Trump Administration's Actions on Media and DEI

Bernard Goldberg initiates the conversation by highlighting President Donald Trump's adversarial stance towards major news networks. At [00:37], Goldberg states:

“Trump now is trying to punish the press. When you have a CNN I watch... MSNBC is, I think, probably worse. And they're both doing horribly in the ratings.”

Goldberg contends that Trump’s dissatisfaction with media outlets like CNN and MSNBC has led to increased governmental scrutiny. He asserts that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), under Brendan Carr, is investigating Disney and Comcast for potential DEI violations, tying this back to Trump’s executive orders aimed at curbing DEI initiatives within federal operations.

Bill O’Reilly echoes this sentiment at [02:32]:

“Donald Trump doesn't like DEI. Neither do I. Donald Trump thinks the DEI disseminates too many progressive ideas.”

O’Reilly supports Trump’s actions against DEI in the public sector but expresses reservations about extending such government interventions into private corporations, emphasizing the autonomy of businesses like Disney.

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3. Perspectives on DEI in Private Companies

The discussion progresses to the impact of DEI policies on private enterprises. Goldberg raises concerns about how DEI initiatives could burden companies that engage in significant government contracts. O’Reilly responds by stressing the importance of allowing private companies to self-govern their policies without federal intrusion, advocating for consumer-driven accountability instead.

At [04:04], O’Reilly warns of potential future shifts:

“If we get a progressive president down the road, then they'll write their own executive orders, they'll knock out all Trump's executive orders, and it'll be DEI.”

He emphasizes the unpredictability of governmental policies with changing administrations, highlighting the need for stability in private sector operations.

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4. Interview with Congressman Ro Khanna

The episode features an in-depth interview with Congressman Ro Khanna, representing the 17th District in California's Silicon Valley. Goldberg introduces Khanna by addressing his role in highlighting economic and social issues facing America.

a. Economic Stagnation and Division

At [10:21], Khanna outlines the primary challenges:

“Economic stagnation in factory towns. We took a bet on technology and finance... we hollowed out manufacturing in this country and left a lot of people without economic security.”

He also points to the deep socio-political divisions in the nation:

“The deep anger between people who represent bluer areas like mine and people who represent red areas.”

b. Income Inequality and Progressive Policies

Discussing income inequality, Khanna notes:

“We've gone from 53rd in the world in income inequality to 128.”

He advocates for a balanced approach combining higher taxes on billionaires with economic growth initiatives, praising Trump’s focus on reducing dependency on China and revitalizing the Midwest.

c. Border Security Issues

On border security, Khanna admits past mistakes under the Biden administration:

“We made a mistake on the border. We let in 8 million people.”

He emphasizes the need for secure borders while promoting the successes of immigrants who contribute positively to American society.

Khanna passionately defends American ideals, asserting:

“This country was founded in 1776, not 1619. This is the greatest country in the world... we need to celebrate it and have more people have the opportunities I do.”

Goldberg encourages Khanna to pursue higher political ambitions, recognizing his dedication and alignment with national pride.

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5. Disney and Comcast Under FCC Investigation

Bernard Goldberg shifts the focus to Disney and Comcast, discussing the repercussions of DEI policies on these media giants.

a. DEI Policies Impact on Disney's Performance

At [18:36], an unnamed woman of color voices concerns about governmental overreach and societal divisiveness. Goldberg ties this sentiment to Disney’s struggles:

“Disney is the most powerful corporation in the world... But Disney has interest in Florida... the View has pounded Trump for almost 10 years. And so it's payback time.”

David Johnson, CEO of Strategic Vision, provides insider insights at [20:24]:

“The movies are flopping all over. People aren't going there. Look at Snow White... consumers are boycotting.”

Johnson attributes Disney’s financial woes to DEI-driven content changes, suggesting that the company’s shift towards progressive narratives is alienating traditional audiences.

b. Consumer and Market Reactions

Goldberg and Johnson debate whether Disney’s DEI policies are the sole cause of its declining performance. Johnson argues that DEI-centric projects are failing to resonate with audiences, while Goldberg contends that economic factors like high theme park prices are also significant deterrents.

At [23:57], Johnson further asserts:

“A lot of it is because people think... Disney’s facing a lot of problems financially... families don't feel comfortable with Disney brand any longer because of its DEI policies.”

c. Personal Perspectives on Government Intrusion

Goldberg reinforces the idea that government intervention via DEI mandates is detrimental to private enterprises. At [22:19], he challenges Johnson:

“Do you believe that problems creatively from Disney are stemming from their insistence that they have a quota system for minorities?”

Johnson maintains that consumer backlash against DEI initiatives is a driving force behind Disney’s challenges, emphasizing market-driven consequences over governmental policies.

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6. Audience and Public Reactions

The episode includes a segment featuring an unnamed woman of color expressing disillusionment with the current political climate:

“I'm worried about mass deportation and internment camps... I was so hopeful that a mixed race woman married to a Jewish guy could be elected president of this country.”

Her perspective underscores the societal divisions and fears perpetuated by extreme political rhetoric and policies, aligning with the episode's broader themes of conflict between progressive and conservative values.

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7. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Bill O’Reilly concludes the episode by reiterating the themes of government overreach, the impact of DEI on private corporations, and the deepening political and social divisions in America. He encourages listeners to stay informed and engaged, emphasizing the importance of understanding the nuanced interplay between government policies and corporate actions.

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Notable Quotes:

• Bernard Goldberg [00:37]:

  “Trump now is trying to punish the press... MSNBC is, I think, probably worse.”

• Bill O’Reilly [02:32]:

  “Donald Trump doesn't like DEI. Neither do I.”

• Congressman Ro Khanna [10:21]:

  “Economic stagnation in factory towns... the deep division we have in this country.”

• David Johnson [20:24]:

  “Look at Snow White... consumers are boycotting.”

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Key Takeaways:

• The Trump administration is actively targeting media corporations like Disney and Comcast through FCC investigations centered on DEI violations.

• DEI policies are a contentious issue, with significant debate over their impact on private sector performance and societal cohesion.

• Congressman Ro Khanna highlights economic stagnation and deep political divisions as critical challenges facing America, advocating for a balanced approach to income inequality and border security.

• Disney's financial struggles are attributed to both DEI-driven content changes and economic factors, reflecting broader tensions between traditional business models and progressive initiatives.

This episode of No Spin News Weekend Edition provides a comprehensive analysis of the intersecting forces shaping American media, corporate policies, and political landscapes, offering listeners a clear-eyed perspective on current events and their implications for the future.

Transcript

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[Bill O'Reilly]

Welcome to the no Spin News Weekend Edition.

[Bernard Goldberg]

Trump now is is trying to punish the press. Roll it. When you have a CNN I watch. You have to watch these people every once in a while just to see where they're coming from. And it's so dishonest. MSNBC is, I think, probably worse. And they're both doing horribly in the ratings. I think they're going to be turned off. Okay. Not only is Trump disparaging them, but he has ordered the fcc, Federal Communications Commission, Brandon Carr is the guy running it. Brendan Carr, to investigate Disney and Comcast. Comcast is NBC for possible DEI violations. Remember, Trump signed the order against dei. That is federal law. And if a company violates that law, the government can punish them hard. So ABC at one time issued some kind of dictum that 50% of all its performers had to be minorities. Remember that? Now, I don't think they're doing that now because they're all afraid. But there is a big investigation against Comcast, trans NBC and Trump hates them. And Disney, which runs ABC and Trump hates them. Joining us now with some perspective is the purveyor of the very fine website bernardgoldberg.com never boring. I can say that website is never boring. It's got new stuff almost every day. And Goldberg is in Miami living large right now as we speak. Okay. So do you oppose the FCC investigating Disney and Comcast?

[Bill O'Reilly]

Okay. Donald Trump doesn't like dei. Neither do I. Donald Trump thinks the EI disseminates too many progressive ideas. So do I. So if Donald Trump wants and he has issued proclamations and executive orders dealing with DEI within the federal government, I'm fine with that. But not with private corporations, because private corporations like Disney have a right to do stupid things. They have a right to produce a remake of Snow White, which a lot of conservatives are calling snow woke. And the public weighs in by saying, I don't want to pay money to.

[Bernard Goldberg]

Watch that kind of stuff bombing. But, but Comcast, we should point out, do business with the government and fairly significant business. Go ahead.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Shareholders have a right to weigh in and say we don't want our company Run, that's all fine with me. But not in the private sector.

[Bernard Goldberg]

But if they have. If he can find a loophole, we want to find it.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Donald Trump and conservatives want less intrusion by the federal government into our personal and business lives. And this is more intrusion.

[Bernard Goldberg]

What about the cultural reform that Trump is very, you know, hasn't been reported much, but he wants to change the culture. Smithsonian Institution. That's big.

[Bill O'Reilly]

You're breaking up, Bill. I can't. I can't follow what you're saying, but I heard the Smithsonian Institution, right. If he wants to. If he wants to deal with things that fall under the federal government, I'm okay with that. But here's the problem. When you go into the private sector, what happens if someday, and we will have another liberal president, maybe even a progressive president, who says, I think DEI is great. I want it in all my federal agencies, all of them. But you know what? That's not enough. That's not enough. I also want the EI in the private sector because it's such an important part of our culture. No, because I don't want. I don't want the.

[Bernard Goldberg]

But that's going to happen. It's inevitable. If we get a progressive president down the road, then they'll write their own executive orders, they'll knock out all Trump's executive orders, and it'll be dei. Hello. That's inevitable. That's what happens. You know, voting have consequences.

[Bill O'Reilly]

You know, I can't read lips, and I'm not hearing what you're saying.

[Bernard Goldberg]

Okay, so we lost Mr. Goldberg. Unfortunately, tactical problems that could not be fixed. Tough world, but we didn't happen too much to us. But it is a hard world here because we're dependent on other people's systems and then our system and all of that. Just. Bernie's main point was that if it's a private company, the government can intrude on DEI or anything else. That's true. So the DEI order only handles companies that do business with the federal government or are run by the federal government, like the Kennedy center, which Trump has taken over, and the Smithsonian Institution, which the government runs. Taxpayer Medic. Now, as far as the media is concerned, I do the same thing. If I were Trump. So the media had beaten me to a pulp for almost 30 years. Lie every day about me. If I had the power, I punished them. Why? Because they not only do it to me, but they do it to other people with whom they disagree. Ideologically, I rely on physical precious metals like gold and silver to protect my savings and the only company I trust is American Hartford Gold. A tax advantaged gold IRA can protect your savings from inflation, recessions and more. You can even roll over your 401k or IRA tax and penalty free. With thousands of five star ratings and an A from the Better Business Bureau, American Hartford Gold has delivered billions in precious metals. Trust American Hartford Gold. To help you, call or text American Hartford Gold. Tell them Bill O'Reilly sent you for up to $15,000 of free silver on qualifying orders. 8663-2655-7686-6326-5576. Or you can text Bill to 998-899 again 866-326-5576 or text Bill to 998-899.

[Josh Hammer]

Like a bull in a china shop, Donald Trump came in to drain the swamp in Washington, D.C. but with his bold reform and rejuvenation agenda comes so many legal questions nationwide. Injunctions are they? What's the deal with birthright citizenship? What about the administrative state? Can he actually clean the deep state and end the politicization of the federal bureaucracy? I'm Josh Hammer, host of America on Trial with Josh Hammer. Subscribe to America on Trial with Josh Hammer for your daily updates on all of these questions and more.

[Bernard Goldberg]

I told you about, you know, confronting the president, which is, you know, one of the most successful books of last year, couldn't get on any of the network shows because they don't like me. They knew the book was going to be huge. And that kind of censorship, that kind of mindset. And not only me, but the CBS Sunday Morning program which we zeroed in on, they have one non liberal author on the whole year, that's Jane Pauly. So if I'm in power, I go after him. Well, I don't think Trump's doing anything wrong at all. Yes, it's personal, personal to me. I'm a little bit more restrained. I don't have the power, obviously, that Donald Trump has. And I'm not in the business to really hurt these people. Personally, I don't want to hurt them. I want them to be fired. I want them out of there anyway. That's my point of view.

[Bill O'Reilly]

You're listening to the no Spin News Weekend Edition.

[Bernard Goldberg]

When we try to book a Democratic senator or congressperson, it isn't easy, not just for us, but now both parties don't want to go out of their comfort zone. So if you are a Republican, you run to Fox and Newsmax. And we, we get our share of Republican politicians here. When Marjorie Taylor Greene Blue is off. Massie in Kentucky they won't because they know they're going to be challenged. But I challenge everybody but Democrats. Very hard to get them to sit for an interview because they don't want that. They can go to CNN and MSNBC and just blather on and they're not going to be challenged. But there's an exception. All right, Congressman Ro Khanna K H A N N A represents 17 District, California Silicon Valley. He likes to talk to everybody, so we accommodated him. Roll it. So, Congressman, what are the two biggest problems right now facing the American people?

[Ro Khanna]

Economic stagnation in factory towns. We took a bet on technology and finance. It did great, but we hollowed out manufacturing in this country and left a lot of people without economic security. And the second is the deep division we have in this country, the deep anger between people who represent bluer areas like mine and people who represent red areas.

[Bernard Goldberg]

Okay, let's stay on the economy first. There are plenty of jobs. Anybody who wants to work can get a job in this country. I mean, unemployment is around 3%. So why are you concerned about the workplace?

[Ro Khanna]

People are in jobs, but they're not in high paying jobs. They're not in stable jobs. And a lot of communities don't have wealth generation. They're doing a lot of service jobs, but they don't have an industry that's bringing in wealth into their towns.

[Bernard Goldberg]

The extreme people in the Democratic Party get all the attention there. Doesn't seem, you know, if you go out on the street, Congressman, and you say, who are the moderate Democrats? Nobody knows. I mean it's all the Ocasio Cortez, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren. These are the faces of your party. I think that hurts you.

[Ro Khanna]

Well, look, I identify as a progressive. I'll tell you where, where, where they tap into something which is the massive income inequality in the country. We've gone from 53rd in the world in income inequality to 128. Now the difference is, I think to deal with that income inequality, you know, you and I will probably disagree. I think yes, you need to have, have higher taxes on the billionaires in my district, but you also need to have economic growth. You also need to build things. And my view is let's argue with Donald Trump on who is going to be better at actually getting factories, who's going to be better at getting businesses there. And let's give him credit for one thing. He was right about two fundamental things. He was right that we were getting too much of our business going to China and that we had had too soft a policy on China. And he was right that people in the Midwest, the heartland, should be. Were angry that their jobs had left. And I think the Democratic Party can say, you know, he was right about certain things, and we have a better vision of how we're going to build the future in these communities.

[Bernard Goldberg]

I don't believe that most Americans are jealous of billionaires, and they don't think they're oligarchs, and they don't think that they've made their money illegally, and they don't think Elon Musk is a terrorist who's trying to come and take their home. But the Democratic Party constantly overstates and sells this division between the rich and the poor. You say you're progressive. That's a progressive tenet. You on board with that?

[Ro Khanna]

Well, look, I represent probably the place that is the most billionaires in the world. I mean, at the heart of Silicon Valley, I've got $13 trillion of market cap. I was the one. I said, look, don't. Don't vandalize Tesla and don't cheer for any American company's stock to go down.

[Bernard Goldberg]

One more question for you, though. You're an honest man. We're happy to have you here. The open border was really why the Democrats lost the election. Yes, the economy. But under Biden, the last two years, the stock market was good. He could never get the prices under control because he could. He wasn't running the government anyway, as you may know. Biden was not running it. But the open border was embraced by your party. Nobody came up and said, this is insane. And the American people said, no. And that is what killed you guys in the last election. Am I wrong?

[Ro Khanna]

We made a mistake on the border. We let in 8 million people.

[Bernard Goldberg]

And in the Biden long mistake, four years long.

[Ro Khanna]

I think that we've got to be for border security. And then we got to tell the story of people like my parents who came to this country to study. They were engineer, teacher. I grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Born in Philadelphia, 1976. Let me tell you the biggest thing, Bill, that the party needs to make it clear. This country was founded in 1776, not 1619. This is the greatest country in the world. It gave the son of Indian immigrants like me, someone born of Hindu faith in a 99% white community in Bucks county, every chance possible. I today represent Silicon Valley. It's an amazing country. We need to celebrate it and have more people have the opportunities I do. And if people believe you're a True Patriot. And they can tell that. They can tell that, you know, it's not rhetoric. If they believe you believe in this country, they'll give you a lot of latitude on whether they agree on this policy or that policy.

[Bernard Goldberg]

I agree with that. You should run for president. Congressman, thank you very much for taking the time.

[Bill O'Reilly]

This is the no Spin news Weekend Edition.

[Bernard Goldberg]

We reported yesterday that Disney is under investigation by the fcc, Federal Communications Commission because the Trump administration doesn't like Disney, because ABC News in particular, the View has pounded Trump for almost 10 years. And so it's payback time. And the pathway to that is dei, Diversity, equity and inclusion. As you know, President Trump wrote an executive order, which is federal law, that DEI is out if you are doing business with the federal government to any extent.

[Bill O'Reilly]

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[Bernard Goldberg]

And almost every major American corporation does business with the federal government somehow, some way. In Disney's case, it's abc, the network which uses the so called Public Airways. So the feds can go right after Disney. And that's what's happening. Some stats. Looks like Disney's the most powerful corporation in the world. All right. Got about 235,000 people working for them. 74% of the workforce here in the USA. The worst. The rest, obviously abroad. $91 billion at total revenue in 2024 for the Disney company. 94 billion. 91 billion. 91 billion. That's big. The CEO of Robert Iger, known as Bob. Hey, Bob. 74 years old, 41 million last year in salary. Can afford that tux, huh? Those new teeth he can get anything he wants. And Disney is based in Burbank. Burbank, California, which isn't a problem because California is unbelievably left wing. But Disney has interest in Florida. And you remember when Disney asserted itself in Governor DeSantis dictum, Don't say gay in public school. That was a massive brawl that worked against the Disney Corporation. But they injected themselves in liberal politics and that's what they did. But I contend that this is personal between President Trump and Disney and a lot of it is because of the view go.

[Unnamed Woman of Color]

I'm worried about mass deportation and internment camps. And I'm also worried about Elon Musk warning Americans to prepare for temporary hardship. I'm surprised at the result, but I'm not surprised. As a woman of color, I was so hopeful that a mixed race woman married to a Jewish guy could be elected president of this country. I think a lot of us are still apoplectic that America voted against a qualified woman again and put in, you know, this racist misogynist and they don't care. And so it's like, so it's tough, tiring, it is exhausting. It is disappointing. The guy was not born in this country who was born under apartheid in South Africa. So has that mentality going on. He was pro apartheid, as I understand it.

[Bernard Goldberg]

And she had to correct that. But to call a president of the United States a racist misogynist. ABC is going to pay a price for that and they know these women are going to do it and they've been doing it for years. So that's what is going on. Joining us now from Atlanta is David Johnson. He is the CEO of Strategic Vision, that's a public relations group and he follows this kind of stuff, obviously. So a few years ago it came out an Axios report that the ABC executives in Burbank would not green light any project entertainment project unless there was a 50% part of the project that was devoted to minority personnel. Do you remember that?

[David Johnson]

I do. And look, they're paying a price with that. We're seeing the movies are flopping all over. People aren't going there. Look at Snow White that was just released and it was released with the DEI controversy. And it's going to be one of the biggest losses for Disney. I saw just a few moments ago that it's reported can lose at least 1.1 and a half million dollars or more. It's a fluff for it.

[Bernard Goldberg]

But couldn't that be because the movie is just terrible? Does it have to do with its DEI policies?

[David Johnson]

A lot of it is that's what people think. And they refocused Disney did Snow White into a DEI story. We saw with some of the Star wars shows as well on Disney plus, viewers are running from it because they don't like their old classics now made politically correct with all these DEI policies. And that's one of Disney's problems. Disney's facing a lot of problems financially. Their shows are flopping, consumers are boycotting. Disney plus have lost a lot of subscribers. They're even not going to the theme parks anymore. And a lot of it is because families don't feel comfortable with Disney brand any longer because of its DEI policies.

[Bernard Goldberg]

Well, I'm going to disagree with you. On a theme park, it's a lot of it's because it costs $1,000 a day to go there.

[David Johnson]

Well, that too, I agree.

[Bernard Goldberg]

Wiped out. And talk about dei, what's the I inclusion? Well, you're not including working class and poor families when you charge $1,000 a day. So I say the hypocrisy is just staggering. Now, we had Bernie Goldberg on a program yesterday and Goldberg asserts, and he put this on his website, bernardgoldberg.com that a government powerful Washington D.C. doesn't really have any right to go into a private company and tell them how to run their operation. Do you believe that?

[David Johnson]

Oh, I do. I mean, I'm a capitalist. I believe consumers decide the marketplace and if they don't like it, the company can go under. We're definitely seeing Donald Trump with this FCC investigation go away after the View. But ultimately it's going to be the consumer that decides. And right now Disney has numerous problems because the consumers don't like them.

[Bernard Goldberg]

And you believe that problems creatively from Disney are stemming from their insistence that they have a quota system for minorities. I'll tell you an interesting story. I've said this once before on this program. I know both Kelsey Grammer and Alec Baldwin. They shot a pilot for Disney. I guess it was six or seven years ago, and a pilot was very funny. It was about two talk show hosts. But they reversed it. Grammer was the liberal and Baldwin was the conservative. And they didn't pick it up. Disney, according to my sources, which are pretty good because there was no minority in the starring roles. Now, if I had a bet, I would say it was true. I can't say with 100% certainty that's true, but that's what happened. I know that's what happened. They didn't pick it up. Now, if what you're asserting is that that is stemmed right across the line in their products because entertainment is supposed to be entertaining, not woke. I don't know of any woke projects that are really making it come to think of it. Do you? Do you know any woke stuff that's making it in the entertainment?

[David Johnson]

No, I don't. In fact too Disney tried to do a woke Star wars and they axed it instantly because Star wars fans rebelled against it. Especially when the so called Jedis use the pronouns okay. But no, it's not making it and Disney's suffering from it.

[Bernard Goldberg]

I'm trying to think of one woke project that has been successful. Final question is I think a lot of this is personal. Donald Trump, he's got a list, payback list. I think that's true. Do you?

[David Johnson]

Oh, I definitely do. And the problem for Disney is they're already weak and this payback list might be the final nail in their coffin.

[Bernard Goldberg]

I don't see them going out of business. The structure.

[David Johnson]

They're not going to go to business, but they're going to be diminished.

[Bernard Goldberg]

Yeah, they'll lose. They'll. Kids still want to go. The kids don't know. And to the theme parks and all of that. Ms. Johnson, thanks very much. Really appreciate your expertise.

[David Johnson]

Thank you.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Thank you for listening to the no Spin News Weekend Edition. To watch the full episodes of the no spin news, visit billoriley.com and sign up to become a premium or concierge member. That's billoriley.com Sign up and start watching today.