Podcast Summary: The O'Reilly Update – December 6, 2025

Host: Bill O’Reilly
Notable Contributor: Mike Slater
Duration: ~14 minutes (excluding advertisements)

Episode Overview

This weekend edition of The O’Reilly Update delivers a rapid-fire briefing of the nation's top news stories, Bill O'Reilly's commentary on media transparency and "fake news," and a fact-based segment digging into the escalating U.S. crackdown on narco-states. The tone is skeptical of mainstream media, patriotic, and focused on delivering what the host claims are unvarnished facts and perspective.

Key News Highlights (with Mike Slater)

Segment starts at 00:40

• Pipe Bomber Arrest (01:00)

  • FBI arrests Brian Cole, Jr. almost 5 years after pipe bombs were planted at the RNC and DNC on Jan 5, 2021.
  • Cole was identified through bank records and cell phone data; he worked for a bail bond company linked with lawsuits against ICE and the Trump administration.
  • Quote:

    "Court documents revealed that bank records showing purchases of pipe bomb material and cell phone tower data were used to identify Brian Cole, Jr." (Mike Slater, 01:20)

• Capitol Hill Briefing: Admiral Frank Bradley (01:50)

  • Bradley briefs Congress on a drone strike (Sep 2) against drug traffickers in the Caribbean.
  • Division among lawmakers:
    • Sen. Tom Cotton: “I did not see anything disturbing about the video…” (02:35)
    • Rep. Jim Himes: “I reviewed the video and it's deeply, deeply troubling.”
  • Political context: Some want Sec. of War Pete Hegseth ousted over alleged war crimes.

• International Peace: The Washington Accords (02:55)

  • Trump brokers a peace deal between Congo and Rwanda, ending a multi-decade conflict.
  • Noted as a historic moment, signed at the US Institute of Peace.
  • Quote:

    “We have come to the US Institute of Peace to sign a historic agreement that will end one of the longest running conflicts anywhere in the world…” (Mike Slater citing Trump, 03:09)

• Economic Updates (03:12)

  • 30-year mortgage rates down to 6.19%
  • Jobless claims fall to 191,000 (lowest since Nov 2022)
  • Record holiday spending, with 203 million shoppers over Thanksgiving weekend (up from 197 million last year).

Bill O’Reilly’s Message of the Day: “Fake News, Then and Now”

Segment starts at 04:15

• Historical Roots of "Fake News" (04:16)

  • O’Reilly claims Benjamin Franklin invented fake news in 1782, using a fabricated newspaper to criticize King George and colonial loyalists.
  • Modern media is characterized as even more “audacious” in bias and omission.

• Media Critique (04:35)

  • Accuses “liberal press” of spinning negative stories about Trump and ignoring positive news.

    • Examples: Falling gas prices ($2.95/gal), plummeting mortgage rates, and a boom in the stock market.

  • “Not boosterism” for Trump, but a warning of widespread consumer/media deception.

  • Notable quotes:

    “Old Ben would be surprised at today's media, I believe, because it is so audacious.” (Bill O’Reilly, 04:25)

    “Many good people are being misled by the American media. And overall, the press cannot be trusted in this country. Those people are not looking out for us.” (Bill O’Reilly, 05:30)

Listener Mailbag: Cabinet Controversies & Election Strategy

Segment starts at 06:30

• Question on Trump Cabinet Grandstanding (06:34)

  • Listener “Pierce” suggests Trump should rein in vocal cabinet members (Hegseth, Patel, Noem).
  • Co-host replies:

    “They have a right to put forth their point of view as heads of departments. I don't have any beef with that… I want the departments to run efficiently.” (Co-host, 06:53)

• Midterm Elections & Republican Messaging (07:07)

  • Listener “Arthur” doubts Trump can win midterms alone; stresses need for Republican unity and clarity on policy benefits.
  • Bill agrees, stating:

    “The president can spell out vividly next year and he's going to have to do this why his policies are improving the lives of all Americans. That is paramount for him.” (Bill O’Reilly, 07:32)

• Trump and O’Reilly’s Influence (07:56)

  • O’Reilly jokes that Trump is aware of his “Message of the Day,” suggesting some degree of interaction/influence.

“Something You Might Not Know”: Narco-State Escalation

Segment starts at 09:40

• Venezuela and Cartels (09:41)

  • Trump orders military strikes and closes Venezuelan airspace to combat drug cartels.
  • DOJ indicted Maduro and 14 aides (March 2020, under Biden) for drug trafficking.
  • Maduro’s regime labeled a “foreign terror organization” by Trump, permitting military action.

• Regional Context and Cartel Activity (10:30)

  • Colombia: Site of global drug trade’s growth under Pablo Escobar; today, 95% of U.S.-bound cocaine originates here.
  • Ecuador: Now a key transit hub—government emergency measures have failed; 10,000 citizens killed or kidnapped by cartels in the last year.

• Venezuela’s Decline (11:55)

  • O'Reilly paints a bleak picture of Venezuela, formerly the wealthiest South American nation in 1997, now second-poorest after Haiti.

• Quote:

  “The socialist government of Nicolas Maduro has brought widespread misery to Venezuela. In 1997, our country was the wealthiest nation in South America. Now, next to Haiti, it's the poorest.” (Bill O’Reilly, 11:55)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Media Omission:

  “ABC and NBC News failed to mention that. Mortgage rates also falling. Little notice by the press.” (Bill O’Reilly, 05:00)

• On Historic Peace Progress:

  “A historic agreement that will end one of the longest running conflicts anywhere in the world. With far more than 10 million people killed...” (Mike Slater, 03:00)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:40] News Recap with Mike Slater
• [03:33] Intro to Precious Metals (ad)
• [04:15] O’Reilly’s Message of the Day: Fake News origins & Media critique
• [06:30] Listener Mailbag (Cabinet controversies, Election strategy)
• [09:40] “Something You Might Not Know”: War on Narco States in South America

Tone & Language

• Tone: Assertive, skeptical, brisk; critical of mainstream media and government inefficiency; patriotic with an emphasis on U.S. strength and leadership.
• Language: Blunt, direct, occasionally sardonic; positions the listener as someone in need of “just facts” and “no spin.”

Summary for Listeners

If you missed the episode, you’re up to date on a dramatic week: a long-hunted pipe bomber arrested, new tensions over drone strikes in the drug war, a surprise African peace accord, record U.S. economic outputs, and O’Reilly’s sharp warning about media bias. Stick around for his deep dive on South America’s narco-state crisis—an area he claims the mainstream media largely ignores.

For full columns and daily updates, O'Reilly invites listeners to visit BillOReilly.com.