Summary5 min read

Podcast Summary: The O’Reilly Update, August 18, 2025

Podcast: Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis
Host: Bill O'Reilly
Guest Anchor: Mike Slater
Air Date: August 18, 2025
Episode Description: "No Spin. Just Facts. Always looking out for you."

Episode Overview

This episode covers the latest in U.S. and global politics, with Mike Slater delivering the news highlights—including updates on the Ukraine war negotiations, American political redistricting battles, border detention expansion in Texas, and the Atlantic hurricane season. Bill O’Reilly offers commentary on the nature of “gotcha” journalism in today’s media, responds to listener mail about redistricting, and provides some lighthearted trivia about President Donald Trump’s favorite music.

News Highlights with Mike Slater (00:10–03:06)

Key Topics:

1. Ukraine War Negotiations

Putin’s New Proposal:
Putin is offering peace if Ukraine “relinquishes some eastern territory” (Donbass region) and in exchange, provides a written pledge “never to attack Ukraine or any other country in Europe.”
- Slater summarizes:
  
  "According to the New York Times, Putin offered to write a written pledge never to attack Ukraine or any other country in Europe." (00:28)
- Ukrainian forces are still holding on to fortified areas; President Zelensky insists Ukraine “will not give up any land.”
- Zelensky, Trump, and other European leaders will meet at the White House for potential talks.

2. Congressional Redistricting Battles

Texas: Eliminating five Democratic seats via redistricting.
California: Governor Gavin Newsom introduces a proposal to eliminate five Republican congressional seats out of 52 (currently, only nine are Republican).
First poll:
- 64% of Californians favor the current map,
- 36% favor the Newsom plan.
The new map would go to a referendum.
Nationwide: Republicans have the upper hand, with 15 GOP-led legislatures controlling redistricting versus three blue states that are “already redistricted Republicans totally out of control" (Oregon, Illinois, Maryland).

3. Migrants and Border Policy

Fort Bliss Detention Facility, El Paso, TX:
- Newly opened, can hold 1,000 migrants (potential to expand to 5,000).
- “Largest detention center in history.”
- Capacity nationally increased to 100,000 illegal alien beds plus 80,000 ICE beds.
- Nicknamed “Lone Star Lockup.”
- Slater jokes:
  
  "It's a good name, but nothing's going to beat the name Alligator Alcatraz, but we'll keep trying." (02:41)

4. Hurricane Season Update

Hurricane Aaron:
- Had reached Category 5 (160 mph winds), downgraded to Category 3 but expanded in size.
- Potential threat to the East Coast by midweek.

O’Reilly’s "Message of the Day" (03:36–05:45)

Key Points:

“Gotcha” Journalism:
O’Reilly distinguishes between tough questioning and a “gotcha” approach.
- He recounts:
  
  “The American media loves the gotcha game, where a reporter embarrasses a public official with a line of questioning.” (03:36)
- References Dan Rather’s treatment of Nixon as a historical starting point.
- O’Reilly’s goal: test what interview subjects know and how accurately they articulate positions, not to embarrass.
Media Bias Toward Trump:
- O’Reilly accuses most of the press of actively trying to portray President Trump and his team as “incompetent, even dangerous.”
- Coverage of migrant policy, O’Reilly claims, spotlights “sob stories” to undermine a policy that is “beneficial.”
“The press is openly seeking negative stuff to blunt actions about foreign criminals that is literally unbelievable. That’s how much they hate Trump.” (04:32)
Concluding Advice:
O’Reilly suggests pushing back against unfair narratives:

“Trying to undermine a policy that is beneficial is wrong.” (05:02)

Listener Mailbag (05:45–07:00)

Selected Letters:

Connie Cummings (Tampa, FL):
- Requests a segment on state redistricting.
  - O’Reilly rebuffs the idea:
    
    “Why would I do that?...It’s the driest thing in the world. This stuff will sort itself out. It always has.” (05:55)
  - Mentions prior redistricting corruption in Illinois and federal intervention.
Brandy Moore (Murphy’s Borough, TN):
- Shares how her son gifted her a No Spin News premium membership; now, family watches together.
  - O’Reilly reacts:
    
    “Get the kids involved. Let them know what's happening in the world even if they don’t want. Take the earplugs out.” (06:25)
Housekeeping & Promotions:
- Announces new “Not Woke” door mat (coming late September/October), and teases his new book Confronting Evil (available September 9).
- “Word of the day: prevaricate. Don’t do that.” (06:58)

Light Moment: Trump’s Favorite Songs (08:02–10:45)

Segment: "Something You Might Not Know"

Trump as DJ:
Trump enjoys DJ-ing at Mar-a-Lago and has a diverse playlist.

President Trump’s Top Songs:

Metallica — “Enter Sandman”
Elton John — “Funeral for a Friend”
James Brown & Luciano Pavarotti — “It’s a Man’s World”
The Rolling Stones — “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”

Highlighted lyrics: “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find you get what you need.” (09:23)
Theme from “Phantom of the Opera”
Johnny Cash — “Ring of Fire”
Frank Sinatra — “My Way”

“I traveled each and every highway and more, much more than this, I did it my way.” (10:05)
Bonus Fact:
Trump is referenced in tracks by Beastie Boys, Lou Reed, Ice Cube, Kanye West, Beyoncé, Snoop Dogg, Kid Rock, and Jay Z.

Notable Quotes & Moments

Mike Slater on California Redistricting:

“Eliminating five would make a bunch of those seats actually a lot closer to the point where if there’s another shift to the right in 2028...it could backfire on the Democrats.” (01:10)
O’Reilly on Media Bias:

“It is not difficult to find sob stories anywhere, but trying to undermine a policy that is beneficial is wrong.” (05:02)
O’Reilly on Involving Family in News:

“The conversation I’ve had with my 18-year-old and 9-year-old sons are very educational to the family. That’s what has to happen. That’s for sure.” (06:21)

Important Timestamps

Ukraine-Russia Negotiations: 00:10–00:54
Redistricting News: 00:54–01:54
El Paso Detention Facility: 01:54–02:53
Hurricane Aaron Update: 02:53–03:06
O’Reilly Message of the Day: 03:36–05:45
Listener Mailbag: 05:45–07:00
Fun Segment: Trump’s Playlist: 08:02–10:45

Final Thoughts

This episode skillfully blends hard news with O’Reilly’s trademark commentary, drawing clear lines between reporting, political strategy, media criticism, and moments of levity. The discussions center around power shifts—on the battlefield, in Congress, and in the media—while also offering a glimpse into personal and cultural trivia.

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Transcript10 lines

[00:03]
Bill O'Reilly
Bill O'Reilly, here. You are listening to the O'Reilly Update. Coming up next, the news with Mike Slater.
[00:10]
Mike Slater
Thank you, Bill. It is Monday, August 18, 2025. Here's what's happening today in America. Giving up land, taking away seats, adding capacity and hurricane downgraded. That's all coming up. The Bill's going to be here with your message of the day. According to multiple media reports, during the Alaska meeting with President Donald Trump, Putin, Putin said that Moscow would be willing to end the war if Ukraine relinquishes some eastern territory in exchange. According to the New York Times, Putin offered to write a written pledge never to attack Ukraine or any other country in Europe. This would be the Donbass region. Now, Russia currently controls a vast majority of it, but Ukrainian forces have managed to maintain a pretty fortified area of control. So if this deal is accepted, then Ukraine's forces would have to retreat from these territories. Now, Zelensky has said that Ukraine will not give up any land. Zelensky is joining Trump at the White House along with other leaders of Europe, the head of the eu, Ursula. Hopefully it goes better for Zelensky than when he came to the White House a couple months ago. As Texas moves forward with redistricting and eliminating five Democrat seats, Gavin Newsom, governor of California, has taken the lead of Democratic opposition and has released a map of California that would eliminate five Republican seats. There's 52 congressional seats in California. Only nine are Republican. As it is. Eliminating five would make a bunch of those seats actually a lot closer to the point where if there's another shift to the right in 2028 like California had in 2024, I could backfire on the Democrats. But either way, the people of California would have to vote on a new map in a referendum. The first poll on this topic has come out. 64% of voters want the current maps. Only 36% want the Newsom plan. The Republicans nationwide have the upper hand in any redistricting war that may take place. There's 15 Republican states where the legislatures control redistricting. Only three blue states and they've already redistricted Republicans totally out of control Oregon, Illinois and Maryland. Speaking of Texas, a migrant detention facility opened in El Paso. It's located at Fort Bliss. It can house a thousand migrants, but may be expanded to hold 5,000. This is the largest detention center in history. It's from the one big beautiful bill gave enough money to increase detention capacity nationwide of 100,000 illegal aliens and 80,000 ice beds. They're calling it the Lone Star Lockup. It's a good name, but nothing's going to beat the name Alligator Alcatraz, but we'll keep trying. Hurricane Aaron, first hurricane of 2025. It reached Category 5 status on Saturday. 160 mile per hour winds, but it fell down to a Category 3 over the weekend. The storm got weaker, but it got bigger. So if it doubles or triples in size, could bring some pretty big storms to the east coast by midweek. I'm Mike Slater. I have a podcast called Politics by Faith. The great Bill O'Reilly has your message of the day. Next.
[03:07]
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[03:36]
Bill O'Reilly
Time now for the O'Reilly update. Message of the day on this Monday. The American media loves the gotcha game, where a reporter embarrasses a public official with a line of questioning. That pursuit has been in place since then. CBS White House correspondent Dan Rather tortured Richard Nixon in the late 1960s. Throughout my career, I've asked very tough questions to the powerful in both parties, but gotcha wasn't my goal. Simply put, I wanted to see how much the interview subject actually knew and how accurately they could articulate their position. Today, much of the press is on a mission to expose President Trump and his administrators as incompetent, even dangerous in that pursuit. They are trying to weave a storyline that undocumented foreign nationals are being treated unfairly or even persecuted by the Trump administration. Well, in order to sell that narrative, you have to cite examples of cruel behavior. But in any massive deportation, tough things aren't going to occur. However, the press is openly seeking negative stuff to blunt actions about foreign criminals that is literally unbelievable. That's how much they hate Trump. It is not difficult to find sob stories anywhere, but trying to undermine a policy that is beneficial is wrong. I'm Bill O'Reilly. I approve the message by writing it. You can reach me, Bill, at billoriley.com billorilly.com name in town if you wish to opine now, let's go to the mail. Connie Cummings, Tampa, Florida. Can you do a segment on state redistricting? No. Why would I do that. I mean, the states handle it. I can't run down redistricting. Nobody would watch. Connie, it's the most, it's the driest thing in the world. This stuff will sort itself out. It always has. There will be federal intervention in some states that are corrupt, like Illinois, my district was corrupt and they ordered to put it back on Long Island. But I can't be doing that. Brandy Moore, Murphy's Borough, Tennessee. Big Civil War battle there. My 18 year old son kept hearing me talk about the, the no Spin News and your YouTube clips, so he bought me a premium membership. Whoa, Brandy. Great. For my 50th birthday, now we all sit down and watch the no spin news. And the conversation I've had with my 18 year old and 9 year old son are very educational to the family. That's what has to happen. That's for sure. Get the kids involved. Let them know what's happening in the world even if they don't want. Take the earplugs out. Okay. I want you to go to our store where we have the not woke stuff. We have a brand new Not Woke mat. Not for sale yet, but I just put one outside my door. I'm gonna take a picture of it and show you. It's coming up late September, early October. Oh, this is the best mat we've ever had. Not. Whoa. Anyway, we got all kinds of other stuff there. And pre order, please, Confronting Evil out September 9th. Coming up fast. You're gonna love the book. You'll learn more on this book, I think, than any of the other books. Boy, there's a lot in there. And word of the day. Prevaricate, prevaricate. P R E V A R I C A T E. Prevaricate. Don't do that. In a moment. Something you might not know. Mmm. Oh. Whatcha eating? The new banana split cookie from Ampium. All freshly baked with real butter. Butter with banana, chocolate and strawberry flavors. Wow, that sounds amazing. Can I have a bite? I'm sorry, but no. But you can't split the banana split. Not even a little. Not even a crumb. What if. No, please. Mine.
[07:51]
Mike Slater
When it's too legit to split.
[07:53]
Bill O'Reilly
That's cray venience. Get a 3 pack for 99 cents with our app AMPM. Too much good stuff.
[07:58]
Mike Slater
Plus tax where applicable. Prices and participation may vary. Terms and conditions apply.
[08:02]
Bill O'Reilly
Now the O'Reilly update brings you something you might not know. When he's not running the country, Donald Trump likes to play DJ at his home base in Mar a Lago. Florida. While the Commander in Chief is a well known fan of the song ymca, there are other tunes on the President's playlist that may surprise you. Here are Trump's top songs ranked by Spotify Metallica Enter Sandman the heavy metal riff was once the entrance music for the New York Yankees closing pitcher Mariano Rivera. Elton John Funeral for a Friend the Rocket man performed at Donald Trump's 2005 wedding with Melania. The two remain friends, John and Trump. Melania is still his wife. Next, a duet from from James Brown and the opera singer Luciano Bavarate. It's a man's World. The Motown ballad is often played at Trump's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Then the Rolling Stones. You can't always get what you want song was performed during Trump's 2016 campaign. Featuring lyrics you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find you get what you need. Next, the theme from Phantom of the Opera. The musical from Andrew Lloyd Webber was the biggest Broadway hit in the 1980s and 90s. Then Johnny Cash Ring of Fire. The 1963 song chronicles the burning pain of love, marriage, divorce and death. And finally, number one on President Trump's playlist, Frank Sinatra and My way. I traveled each and every highway and more, much more than this, I did it my way. And here's something else you might not know. Donald Trump is not just a fan of music. He's often named in some songs. Notable musicians who have referenced Trump the Beastie Boys, Lou Reed, Ice Cube, Kanye West, Beyonce, Snoop Dogg, Kid Rock and Jay Z. Back after this Foreign.
[10:46]
Mike Slater
Morgan, the host of the Piers Morgan Uncensored podcast. We do big interviews and we do big debates about whatever's getting people talking. We make news, we make noise, and we make a little bit of trouble, too. Come and see what all the fuss is about. You can listen to Piers Morgan uncensored on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.
[11:11]
Bill O'Reilly
Thank you for listening to the O'Reilly update. I am Bill O'Reilly. No spin, just facts. And always looking out for you.