O'Reilly on New York's Defiance of Trump's DEI Executive Order - Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis

Summary4 min read

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

Episode: O’Reilly on New York's Defiance of Trump's DEI Executive Order
Release Date: April 8, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis, host Bill O’Reilly delves into New York City's resistance against President Donald Trump's Executive Order on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The discussion highlights the political dynamics within New York, scrutinizes the effectiveness of current leadership, and examines the implications of defying federal mandates.

Inner Circle Dinner Insights

Event Overview
Bill O’Reilly begins by recounting his experience at the Inner Circle Dinner play held at the Zig Field on a Saturday night. This annual event, organized by the Press Association of New York City, traditionally features a satirical play that lampoons local politics. Although the event has been a staple for over a century, O’Reilly notes a decline in its prominence and influence.

Performance and Attendance
He comments, “They’re very good, by the way. The play is good and the performances are good, but it used to be a much more powerful event” ([00:31]). The absence of significant political figures was evident, with only a few journalists and influencers in attendance. Notably, Governor Patterson and other notable individuals were present, but the crowd mainly comprised advertisers purchasing media time in New York City.

Political Landscape in New York City

Mayor Adams' Reelection Prospects
O’Reilly discusses the future of New York City's mayoral race, expressing skepticism about Mayor Adams' chances of reelection:

“No one, and these insiders, feels that Mayor Adams is going to be reelected because he has no constituency, no power base. He's going to run as an independent” ([00:45]).

He views Adams running as an independent positively but criticizes his lack of a strong record, suggesting that Adams will rely on claims of reduced trial crimes to bolster his campaign. While he acknowledges a decrease in trial crime statistics, O’Reilly counters this by stating, “social disorder is not down, it's up” ([00:55]). He emphasizes the distinction between statistical improvements and the real-world perception of safety, attributing the latter to ongoing social instability.

Potential Successor: Former Governor Cuomo
O’Reilly predicts that former Governor Andrew Cuomo is poised to become the next mayor unless Robert Sliwa can mobilize sufficient resources and support:

“Cuomo is far ahead also. This was not discussed at the Inner Circle Dinner, but it caught my eye” ([01:15]).

He suggests that Cuomo’s name recognition and political experience give him a significant advantage in the current climate of uncertainty and chaos within the city.

Defiance of Trump's DEI Executive Order

Introduction to DEI Controversy
A central focus of the episode is New York City's refusal to comply with President Trump's Executive Order targeting DEI initiatives. O’Reilly introduces Daniel Morton Bentley, the Deputy Commissioner for Legal Affairs at the New York State Education Department, highlighting his role in opposing the federal directive:

“Daniel Morton Bentley is the deputy Commissioner for legal affairs... and he says... that the federal government does not have the authority to knock out DEI when it obviously does, because Trump signed an executive order” ([02:00]).

State vs. Federal Authority
Bentley’s stance is that New York City and State possess the autonomy to maintain DEI programs despite federal opposition. O’Reilly critiques this position, suggesting it is more about political posturing than substantive resistance:

“This guy writes a letter to the U.S. Education Department on Friday, April 4, and says, you know what? Blank you. We're not going to do it in our schools” ([02:30]).

He further explains that New York’s refusal could lead to federal sanctions, such as loss of funding for state schools that continue DEI practices, posing significant challenges for Bentley and the state’s educational institutions.

Legal Implications and Federal Supremacy
O’Reilly underscores the constitutional principle that federal law supersedes state and local laws:

“Federal law trumps state and local law by the Constitution. That's it” ([03:00]).

He doubts the effectiveness of Bentley’s potential legal battles, predicting that New York’s defiance is more about “virtue signaling” than achieving meaningful change.

Conclusion

Bill O’Reilly wraps up the episode by summarizing the key takeaways: New York City's political environment is rife with uncertainty and internal conflict, particularly concerning leadership and policy direction. The state's opposition to the federal DEI Executive Order exemplifies broader tensions between state autonomy and federal authority, with significant implications for education and governance. O’Reilly remains skeptical about the sustainability of New York's resistance, characterizing it as superficial rather than strategically sound.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

[00:31] “They’re very good, by the way. The play is good and the performances are good, but it used to be a much more powerful event.”
[00:45] “No one... feels that Mayor Adams is going to be reelected because he has no constituency, no power base. He's going to run as an independent.”
[00:55] “Social disorder is not down, it's up.”
[01:15] “Cuomo is far ahead also. This was not discussed at the Inner Circle Dinner, but it caught my eye.”
[02:00] “Daniel Morton Bentley is the deputy Commissioner for legal affairs... and he says... that the federal government does not have the authority to knock out DEI when it obviously does, because Trump signed an executive order.”
[02:30] “This guy writes a letter to the U.S. Education Department on Friday, April 4, and says, you know what? Blank you. We're not going to do it in our schools.”
[03:00] “Federal law trumps state and local law by the Constitution. That's it.”

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the essential discussions and viewpoints presented by Bill O’Reilly in the episode, offering listeners and readers a clear understanding of New York's political stance on DEI initiatives and the broader implications of such defiance against federal directives.

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Transcript4 lines

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[00:32]
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Tell you about the Inner Circle Dinner play that I attended at the Zig Field on Saturday night. So this is the Press association of New York City. And every year they put on a very clever play spoofing New York City politics. And it's been going on, I think, more than 100 years. It's not as robust as it used to be. They're very good, by the way. The play is good and the performance are good, but it used to be a much more powerful event. So the governor and the mayor, but there were no big shots there on Saturday night. There were a few journalists like me, but not as many as there should have been. No, I saw Governor Patterson there and a few other people that of note, but mostly they were advertisers, people who buy time on various media in New York City. Anyway, I picked up a bunch of stuff at the minute that mattered to you. No one, no one, and these are insiders, feels that Mayor Adams is going to be reelected no 10 because he has no constituency, no power base. He's going to run as an independent. I don't mind him doing that. I think that's a good thing. But he's got no record and he's going to say, trial crime is down, blah, blah, blah. And it's true. It is true. Let's give the police credit. But social disorder is not down, it's up. And people tie in a perception of safety. Stats are stats, they're bloodless. But if you're walking around Manhattan, you know their social order is shaky. And that's de Blasio. He did it, but Adams didn't approve it at all. And then you got just a bunch of chaos. So Cuomo is going to be the next mayor, unless some miracle occurred to Sliwa can get enough money and get enough organization to get people out. But right now, man, if you're going to Vegas, Cuomo far ahead also. This was not discussed at the Inner Circle Dinner, but it caught my eye. So you know who Daniel Morton Bentley is? I didn't know. I bet you nobody listening to me right now knows who Daniel Morton Bentley is. He is the deputy Commissioner for legal affairs, okay, at the New York State Education Department. So he. He's in Albany, I guess so. He says, and remember, nobody knows who he is, that New York City and State are not going to obey President Trump's executive order on dei. Diversity, equity, inclusion. And Morton Bentley says, quote, that the federal government does not have the authority to knock out dei when it obviously does, because Trump signed an executive order. But this guy writes a letter to the U.S. education Department on Friday, April 4, and says, you know what? Blank you. We're not going to do it in our schools. We're going to have diversity, equity and inclusion. Which means that if you want to apply to Stony Brook or Albany State or another state school, and they want to say, yeah, we'll let you in because you're black, then they will. Well, then the Trump administration is, hey, you're not going to get any money. And what is Daniel Morton Bentley going to do about that? He'll file suit through Letitia James, but they'll lose because federal law trumps state and local law by the Constitution. That's it. This is all for show. It's all virtue signaling. I thought you'd like to know about it.