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.