The O'Reilly Update — December 31, 2025

Guest Host: Mike Slater (filling in for Bill O’Reilly)

Episode Theme & Overview

On the final day of 2025, guest host Mike Slater presents a rapid-fire recap of major news and cultural trends shaping America, focusing on issues of law enforcement, fraud, citizenship, and the moral direction of society. Through news highlights and a thought-provoking "Message of the Day," Slater critiques shifting cultural narratives and their influence on national identity and values.

Key News Highlights (00:10–03:03)

ICE Access to Medicaid Data

• Federal Judge Ruling: ICE officials are now permitted to access Medicaid data to locate individuals residing in the U.S. illegally.
• Details:
  • States fought this measure, but the judge ruled that sharing basic personal info (citizenship status, address, phone, DOB, Medicaid ID) is legal.
  • Context: Some states allow undocumented immigrants access to state-funded healthcare, but not federally funded Medicaid.

Somalian Fraud Charges in Minnesota

• Announcement: “85 Somalian nationals have been charged regarding the fraud that’s been going on for years in Minnesota.” (01:11)
• More Prosecutions: Attorney General Pam Bondi signals further charges.
• Viral Exposure: “Nick Shirley’s video has over 130 million views.” (01:40)

Bitcoin ATM Scam Epidemic

• Scope of Fraud: “The FBI announced … fraudsters have tricked Americans into sending $333 million using Bitcoin ATM machines” this year. (01:56)
• Victim Profile: “The median age of the victim was 71.” (02:34)
• Company Litigation: D.C. Attorney General sues one Bitcoin ATM firm: “93% of the transactions on their devices were helping fraudsters.” (02:28)

George & Amal Clooney: French Citizenship

• Context: “George Clooney and his wife Amal have been approved for French citizenship. … France has more privacy laws which benefits their children.” (02:46)
• Upcoming Law: From 2026, new citizens must demonstrate advanced French fluency.
• Clooney’s Quip: “George Clooney said his French is horrible.” (02:54)

The O’Reilly Update: Message of the Day

“Politics is Downstream of Culture”

(Mike Slater, referencing Andrew Breitbart) (04:10–08:12)

The Blurring of Good & Evil in Media

• Movie Reference: “A new movie coming out on Netflix called Steps… Cinderella’s evil stepsisters are actually depicted as kind and misunderstood.” (04:24)
• Cultural Critique: Recurrent theme in modern media to recast villains as victims; examples include Wicked, Maleficent, Cruella.

The Impact on Society & Justice

• Criminal Justice Parallels: “We see the same type of thinking in our criminal justice system. … Sure, this guy’s been arrested 83 times, but oh, he just needs a hug and an 84th chance. Then he’ll be an astronaut.” (05:20)
• Quote – Paul Antleitner: “Girls have been hit particularly hard with a ‘what you were told was evil is a misunderstood good/bad’ messaging from Wicked, Maleficent, Cruella.” (06:01)

The Dangers of Moral Ambiguity

• On ‘Wicked’: “The essential point … is that the Wicked Witch of the West is profoundly misunderstood… challenging simplistic good versus evil narratives.” (06:24)
• Broader Critique: “Villains in our postmodern culture have been reframed as victims of prior oppression and trauma. … Everything is upside down.” (07:18)
• The Call for Moral Clarity: “We used to live in a culture with clear good guys and bad guys because we were a people with moral clarity. … There is good and evil, and good is called to fight against the evil.” (07:30)
• Inspirational Quote – C.S. Lewis: “Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage … Let villains be soundly killed at the end of the book.” (07:50)

Prescription for 2026

• “This is the year where we bring back the good, the beautiful, and the true. Reject all movies with moral inversions. This is a time for moral clarity and courage.” (08:00)

“Something You Might Not Know”: U.S. Immigration Policy

(Mike Slater, 08:35–11:14)

The Hart-Celler Act of 1965 & Myths About American Diversity

• Challenging Barack Obama’s View:
  • Obama’s quote: “What’s unique about America is this idea that you get a bunch of people from every corner of the planet... That’s what makes this country exceptional.”
  • Slater’s response: “That’s not true. That’s not what America ever was, a bunch of people from every corner of the planet.” (08:43)
• Historical Immigration Policy:
  • 1921–1965: National origins quotas dictating the number and source of immigrants.
  • “If the census in 1910 said there were 10,000 Italians in America, we’re only going to allow 300 Italians a year. That’s it.” (09:21)
  • Restrictions tightened over time, including the 1925 Asian Exclusion Act.
• Assimilation Focus:
  • Slater: "From 1921 to 1965, there was no third world immigration in the United States. … This was for the best for our country." (10:09)
  • “It was a time for everyone to assimilate to something specific, something good, something defined—not just a bunch of people from everywhere who can’t talk to each other and have nothing in common.” (10:23)
• Contemporary Immigration Data:
  • “In 1921, 14% of the people in this country were foreign born. We got that dropped down to 4% in 1970. Today we’re at all-time highs, at least 15%.” (10:41)

Concluding Point

• “It is time for another version of the 1965 Hart-Celler act, because diversity, dare I say, is not our strength.” (11:07)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Politics is downstream of culture.” — Mike Slater quoting Andrew Breitbart (04:10)
• “Nick Shirley’s video has over 130 million views.” — on social media’s power in exposing fraud (01:40)
• “93% of the transactions on their devices were helping fraudsters and the median age of the victim was 71.” — on Bitcoin ATM scam epidemic (02:28)
• “This worldview starts in children’s books and movies.” — Slater on the impact of media on moral development (05:30)
• “Let villains be soundly killed at the end of the book.” — C.S. Lewis on moral clarity in children’s stories (07:50)

Additional Information

• Mike Slater signed off wishing listeners a wonderful new year and reminding them of his own podcast, Politics by Faith.
• The episode strongly pushes for a renewed commitment to moral clarity, skepticism of contemporary media’s messaging, and tighter immigration policy.