Loading summary
Transcript9 lines
- [00:03]
A
Bill O'Reilly, here. You are listening to the O'Reilly Update. Coming up next, the news with Mike Slater.
- [00:10]
B
Thank you, Bill. It is Friday, December 26, 2025. Here's what's happening today in America. Trump's Christmas message, Southern California flooding, Washington Monument illumination and don't watch the abridged version. It's all coming up then. Bill's gonna be here with your message of the day. But first, other than the president's usual Christmas message format, which starts out with Merry Christmas to all, including this year, the radical left scum that is doing everything possible to destroy our country but are failing badly. That's his normal Christmas message. Other than that, he also sent a tweet yesterday. Tonight, at my discretion as commander in chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist scum in northwest Nigeria who have been targeting and viciously killing primarily innocent Christians at levels not seen for many years and even centuries. I have previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay. And tonight there was. The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes as only the United States is capable of doing under my leadership. Our country will not allow radical Islamic terrorism to prosper. May God bless our military and merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues. A lot more flooding in Southern California. Two people have died. The rain is expected to last throughout today. Gavin Newsom has declared states of emergency in Los Angeles County, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Shasta. About 120 first responders are assisting local residents with evacuations and any other services that are needed, which is a nice reminder to thank all of our emergency personnel and everyone who worked over Christmas and Christmas Eve. Thank you for keeping us safe. I look forward to seeing how this exactly looks. But on New Year's night at midnight and for the next six days, there will be nightly displays at the Washington Monument in D.C. which will project a sweeping visual narrative onto the monument highlighting key moments in American history, from discovery and independence to unity and future innovation. It's free if you're in the area. Projections begin at 7 o' clock every night. This is a part of our 250th anniversary, which we'll talk more about in the next segment. Yesterday in the something you may not know segment, we talked about the backstory of the movie It's a Wonderful Life, how it started out as a Christmas card that someone wrote and somehow Frank Capra came across it in other It's a Wonderful life news. Amazon is being criticized, rightfully so, for having a version that removes the entire pottersville scene. The 22 minute scene where George sees what life in Bedford Falls and the people he loves, what their life would have been like if he were never born. You know the point of the movie, it just removes the whole 22 minutes. So there's still time to watch it. But if you watch it on Amazon, there's the full version and the abridged. The Full version is 131 minutes. Don't miss one of them. I'll be back with the message of the day. Next.
- [03:04]
A
Let's face it, the US Economy is under stress. National debt rising, trade war shaking the markets. And meanwhile, China is dumping the dollar and stockpiling gold. That's why I protected my savings with physical gold and silver. Theroux, the only dealer I trust, American Hartford Gold. And you can do this, get precious metals delivered to your door or place in a tax advantage. Gold, Iraq, they'll even help you roll over your existing IRA or 401k tax and penalty free. With billions in precious metals delivered, thousands of five star reviews and an A from the Better Business Bureau. You can trust American Hartford Gold as I do. Please call 866-326-5576 or text BILL to 998-899 again, that's 866-326-5576, or text BILL to 998999.
- [04:11]
B
I'm Mike Slater filling in for Bill O'Reilly. Now it's time for the O'Reilly Update. Message of the day. My three year old found his older brother's George Washington costume from a couple years ago for a school project and he's been wearing it nonstop the last couple days. So I have been regaling the family more than usual this time of year with the story of the Battle of Trenton. This time though, as my little three year old James reenacts George Washington crossing the Delaware. Yesterday, this morning was the 249th anniversary of George Washington crossing the Delaware. So fascinating to me that we look back on our history and we think, well, of course it turned out that way. Of course that happened. Of course we won World War II. Of course the D Day landing was successful. Of course we landed on the moon before anyone else. Of course, of course it worked out. No, some of the most pivotal, of course we invented the atom bomb first. No, some of the most pivotal moments in our history could have gone in any direction at any time. There's a million examples of this just during the Revolutionary War. But crossing the Delaware, it's got to be near the top of things that just are possible but somehow weren't. Our men were starving. It was freezing cold. It was in the 20s. There was a nor'. Easter. The men who were there wrote that the wind cut like a knife driving snow and sleet. Many of the men had no shoes in the Continental Army. But to get to the river, they had to go on a three mile hike. They had to get there by midnight. On Christmas Eve night at about 8 o', clock, I started putting together a basketball hoop. It was very frustrating, but then I thought of these men hiking to the Delaware river to then cross the Delaware River. 2,400 men, 18 cannons, 200 horses, 249 years ago, yesterday, last night, with no guarantee this would work at all. There were three total crossings. Two of them didn't make it. The ice was too thick and the plan was insane. It was a preposterous plan. Two of them didn't make it. And George Washington was about to abort himself. There were three hours behind schedule. So by the time they would get across the river, if they did and they still had to go on another 10 mile hike, they were gonna get there after the sun came up. And they would lose the element of surprise. They'd all be killed. But George Washington decided, in his words, to push on. At all events, and thank God they did. 22 enemy soldiers were killed, 98 wounded. The Americans captured a thousand prisoners. Only three Americans were killed at the Battle of Trenton. But it wasn't so much that battle, it was the turning point of the war. Christmas Day, crossing the Delaware to engage in a surprise attack. Amazing. It shouldn't have worked. Conditions couldn't have been worse. Fought through a nor'. Easter. Whatever good thing you experienced over Christmas, make sure you thank George Washington and his men who didn't desert, but hiked in the freezing cold, made it across the river, hiked another 10 miles and then fought a battle. Morale was low that winter and Thomas Paine published an essay the day before the battle. George Washington read it to his men. It started. These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will in this crisis shrink from the service of his country. But he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of men and women. Tyranny, like hell is not easy conquered. Yet we have this consolation with us the that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. 249 years ago today. More coming up.
- [08:14]
C
Meet the computer you can talk to with Copilot on Windows. Working, creating and collaborating is as easy as talking. Got writer's block? Share your screen with Copilot Vision to help spark inspiration and use Copilot voice to have a conversation and brainstorm ideas. Or maybe you need some tech help with Copilot Vision. Copilot sees what you see. Let Copilot talk you through step by step guidance so you can master new apps, games and skills faster. Try now@windows.com copilot.
- [08:43]
B
Mike Slater filling in for Bill O'Reilly. Now it's time for something you might not know. I didn't know about this until a couple weeks ago. I came across the most stunningly beautiful piece of art I've ever seen in my life. Pieta is the most beautiful work of art, but this is right there. Pieta is a statue. This is a Fresca painting up on the wall. But I've never heard of this before until a couple weeks ago. It's called the Meaning of Labor in the Son of Grace. Search for it immediately. It doesn't look real. The Meaning of Labor in the Son of grace. It's from 1884. It's above a door and it's curved. The wall curves as it gets to the ceiling. It's this huge wall. The background is painted black and white. There's two figures in color, one guy with a shovel, and then this angel wearing a robe of red and blue and gold. And the angel's wings are somehow popping out of the wall. I mean, they're not really, but it looks like it's like those. Remember those 3D paintings you used to see at the mall? You, like, get close to it and you kind of cross your eyes and then come back out and you're like, oh, look, a whale. It's like that, but real life, the wings are somehow above the painting is, like overlapping with the molding. I have no idea how he did it and how this work of art is not as well known as the Mona Lisa. The Meaning of Labor in the son of Grace, 1884. So the scene is a guy working. There may be some New Year's resolution angle. We could take this as well. But a guy's work, he's got a shovel, he's shoveling in the dirt, laboring, exhausted. And the angel is pointing to the sun and making the point that without the sun, the laborer's work is in vain. Just as sunlight brings about the material works of man. Like, no food's going to grow without the sun. Grace allows the works of the spirit to shine. That's the point of the painting. The Latin says, with the grace of God and the effort of will we obtain the excellence of virtue. The angel has a golden wand and is pointed to the ground. And where, where she does the ground is green and lush. And the point is that this man's work digging in the dirt, it's futile if it's not guided by our Creator. Just like the soul can only be saved by the Creator. The painter was thinking of Psalm 126 unless the Lord builds the house, the builder labors in vain. This is what Ben Franklin was quoting when he at the Constitutional Convention said that we should start every day with a prayer. Franklin said that God governs in the affairs of man and that without his aid we will be no better than the builders of Babel. This is one of the most stunning works of art I've ever seen. It's called the Meaning of Labor in the Son of Grace. More coming up.
- [11:24]
D
Hey, Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile. You know, one of the perks about having four kids that you know about is actually getting a direct line to the big man up north. And this year he wants you to know the big the best gift that you can give someone is the gift of Mint mobile's unlimited wireless for 15amonth. Now you don't even need to wrap it. Give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment.
- [11:45]
E
Of 45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes of networks busy. Taxes and fees extra. See mintmobile.com.
- [11:56]
B
Thank you, Bill, for letting me fill in. Thank you for listening. My name is Mike Slater. I have a podcast called Politics by Faith. Have a wonderful weekend.