O'Reilly Update Morning Edition, September 26, 2025 - Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis

Summary3 min read

O'Reilly Update Morning Edition – September 26, 2025

Podcast: Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis
Host: Bill O’Reilly
Episode Date: September 26, 2025

Episode Overview

Bill O’Reilly addresses a controversial move by the Trump administration’s Pentagon, specifically regarding new restrictions on press freedom announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. O’Reilly strongly critiques these restrictions, framing them as a fundamental violation of press rights, and compares them to practices in authoritarian countries.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Pentagon’s New Restrictions on Press (00:17–01:59)

Announcement:
The Pentagon, led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (a former Fox News contributor), informed approximately 90 Pentagon reporters that they cannot disseminate any information gathered without prior government approval.
O'Reilly’s Reaction:
- Strongly condemns the new policy, calling it “insane.”
- Emphasizes that this is a “blatant violation of freedom of the press.”
- Asserts this restriction “would not hold up for 10 minutes in the federal court system.”
- Points out the irony that Hegseth, being a former media professional, “knows the rules” and should understand the press’s rights.

2. The Principles of Press Freedom

Comparisons to Authoritarian Regimes:
O’Reilly draws a parallel between these proposed restrictions and practices in “Beijing, in Moscow, in Tehran.”
- Quote:
  
  “You can't tell reporters what to report. That's what they do in Beijing, in Moscow, in Tehran. We are a free society here.” (01:20)
Reporter Responsibility:
O’Reilly underscores that reporters should be held to account if they are “wrong” but “never censored by the government.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the core issue:

“So if a reporter gets information that a bathroom on a submarine costs $10 million, that reporter can't write that or broadcast it without Pete saying it's okay. Come on.” — Bill O’Reilly (00:40)
Press freedom in the U.S. vs. Authoritarian States:

“You can't tell reporters what to report. That's what they do in Beijing, in Moscow, in Tehran. We are a free society here.” — Bill O’Reilly (01:20)
On accountability, not censorship:

“Reporters have a right to ferret out stories. And if they are wrong, those reporters should be held responsible but never censored by the government.” — Bill O’Reilly (01:36)

Timestamps for Important Segments

(00:17): Bill O’Reilly begins segment on Pentagon’s press policy.
(00:40): Illustrates absurdity of restrictions with a submarine cost example.
(01:20): Draws comparisons to press censorship in authoritarian regimes.
(01:36): Concludes on importance of accountability over censorship.

Language, Tone & Style

Tone: Direct, emphatic, and critical.
Language: Plainspoken and passionate, with pointed analogies and clear condemnation.
Style: O’Reilly maintains his trademark “no spin” approach—assertive, concise, and rooted in fundamental American values.

Summary:
Bill O’Reilly delivers a pointed critique of restrictions announced by the Trump Administration’s Pentagon on press freedom, framing the move as fundamentally un-American and unworkable under the Constitution. He urges that, in the U.S., reporters must remain free to report facts without government pre-screening—a foundational right that cannot be ceded even temporarily. O’Reilly’s message is clear: Let the press do its job, and hold individuals accountable only if they are wrong, not before the fact.

For more news and analysis, O'Reilly directs listeners to billoreilly.com.

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Transcript5 lines

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Bill O'Reilly here and I'm warming up. Standby for the O'Reilly Update Morning Edition on this Friday. The Trump administration has made a fairly significant mistake. It came from the Pentagon, the Defense Department and its chief, Pete Hegseth, who used to work for Fox News. Mr. Hegseth has told reporters who cover the Pentagon, about 90 of them, that they will not be able to disseminate information that they get without government approval. This is insane. So if a reporter gets information that a bathroom on a submarine costs $10 million, that reporter can't write that or broadcast it without Pete saying it's okay. Come on. Blatant violation of freedom of the press. And it would not hold up for 10 minutes in the federal court system. I don't know why this continues to happen. Pete Hegseth is a media guy. He knows the rules. You can't tell reporters what to report. That's what they do in Beijing, in Moscow, in Tehran. We are a free society here. Reporters have a right to ferret out stories. And if they are wrong, those reporters should be held responsible but never censored by the government. Back in a moment.
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See mintmobile.com that is the Morning O'Reilly Update. I am Bill O'Reilly. For more news and honest analysis, please go to billoreilly.com.