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.