Podcast Summary: Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis

Episode: The O’Reilly Update, February 12, 2026

Main Theme

This episode covers key news updates from across America with a focus on the latest legislative efforts regarding voting laws, national security incidents at the southern border, the administration’s stance on energy policy, and the latest U.S. Olympic results. The episode also includes Bill O’Reilly’s signature commentary—addressing media narratives about Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, responding to listener mail about Super Bowl coverage, and closing with a historical vignette about Abraham Lincoln.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Legislative Update: The SAVE Act

[00:10–01:02]

• What happened: The House passed the SAVE Act, moving it to the Senate.
  • Provisions: Requires proof of citizenship and photo ID to register and vote (including mail-in ballots).
  • Senate Status: Mike Lee indicates 44 senators support it; 50 needed to break a filibuster.
  • Political Division: Only one Democrat in the House voted for it, although “over 70% of Democrat voters support it.”
  • Notable Detail: The lone Democrat ‘yes’ was a Texas Representative pardoned by Trump in December 2025 after bribery charges.
• Quote (Mike Slater):

  “Mike Johnson said that we are hoping some Democrats come to their senses and do the right thing. Otherwise, you have a lot of explaining to do.” [00:29]

2. Border Security: Drone Breach in El Paso

[01:02–01:43]

• Incident: Reports indicate Mexican cartel drones breached U.S. airspace, resulting in the temporary closure of El Paso airport.
  • Conflicting Sources: Some say closure was due to new counter-drone technology being tested by DoD, not just cartel activity.
  • Ongoing Issue: Trump administration previously highlighted cartel drone use for surveillance and smuggling.
  • DHS Data: 60,000 drone flights were detected within 500 meters of the border in the last half of 2024; that’s an average of 326 per day.
• Quote (Mike Slater):

  “The director of the counter drone program at DHS testified in front of Congress that U.S. officials detected more than 60,000 drone flights within 500 meters of our border just in the second half of 2024… that’s 326 flights a day.” [01:32]

3. Energy Policy: Executive Order on Coal

[01:44–02:03]

• Presidential Action: The president signed an executive order requiring the Department of War to source electricity from coal plants for military operations.
  • Rationale: To ensure grid reliability and resilience.
  • Funding: $175 million allocated to upgrade six coal plants across Appalachian states.
  • Trends: In 2023, coal produced only 16% of U.S. electricity (vs. >50% in 2000).
• Quote (Mike Slater):

  “The president said the purpose of this executive order is to ensure that we have more reliable power and a stronger and more resilient power grid.” [01:52]

4. Olympics Update

[02:04–02:36]

• Medal Rundown: USA won silver in ice dancing, swept women's moguls (1-2), took gold in men's 1000m speed skating, and silver in men's Super G.
• Medal Ranking: Norway leads with 13 total medals (7 gold), USA second with 12 (4 gold).
• Upcoming Event: Men's hockey to play Latvia in their opening game.
• Quote (Mike Slater):

  "Norway has seven gold though we only have four. But there's 10 more days to go." [02:30]

Bill O’Reilly’s Message of the Day

[03:34–05:00]

Trump–Epstein Story & Media Critique

• Topic: Reports emerge that Donald Trump warned Palm Beach authorities about Jeffrey Epstein in 2006.

• Media Response: O’Reilly criticizes outlets (specifically CNN) for spinning the story to imply Trump knew but didn’t act sufficiently.

• Media Critique: O’Reilly argues nothing can be done about "press deception" due to the First Amendment, but notes CNN’s ratings have suffered.

• Sharp Quote (Bill O’Reilly):

  “Nothing can be done about press deception because of the First Amendment. However, CNN has lost millions of viewers because of its poor and dishonest reporting. Even on breaking news, it's all speculation all the time over there.” [04:02]

• On Getting Facts:

  “Very tough these days to get honest analysis. But you knew that.” [04:19] “President Trump, all of the information indicates, was not associated with Epstein's crimes.” [04:23]

Listener Mailbag

[05:00–06:20]

• Edwin from Connecticut: Criticizes O’Reilly for Super Bowl coverage, implying it supports controversial NFL issues.

  • O’Reilly’s Response: Defends coverage as news-gathering rather than ideological support.
  • Notable Moment: O’Reilly exposes Apple’s role in the halftime show, which involved artist Bad Bunny.
  • Quote:

    “My job is to assemble information and give it to you, Edwin. That is my job. We do not do ideology here. This is not an ideological crusade place... We are here to gather information. This is not ideology that we're pushing.” [05:18]

• Michael, Concierge Member: Questions whether the halftime show is “capitalism in a strict sense.”

  • O’Reilly’s Response: Argues that the massive audience and profit potential from Apple and Bad Bunny confirms that it is.
  • Quote:

    “You got 138 million people watching and Apple's going to make a ton of money from downloads with Bad Bunny. They're going to make way more than they invested in the NFL. That is capitalism.” [06:05]

Something You Might Not Know: Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday

[06:21–07:50]

• Historical Spotlight: 217 years since Lincoln’s birth (Feb 12, 1809).
• Key Life Events:
  • Family’s moves, mother’s early death, voracious reading, rise from humble origins.
  • Early career: farmhand, ferry operator, storekeeper, postman, attorney, politician.
  • Political ascent and fight against slavery; two Senate losses led to national attention.
  • Elected first Republican president in 1860; led the nation through Civil War; preserved the Union.
  • Assassinated five days after Lee’s surrender in 1865 at age 56.
• O’Reilly’s Plug: Encourages listeners to read his book “Killing Lincoln” for more stories.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Mike Slater on Voter ID Law Support:

  “Only one Democrat in the House voted for it, even though over 70% of Democrat voters support it.” [00:33]

• Bill O’Reilly on Today’s Media:

  “It was hard to tell them apart anyway.” — [on Jake Tapper covering a story in front of a cactus] [04:14]

• Listener Mail Exchange (on ideology):

  “You got plenty of those. You don't need another one. So I go to the Super Bowl, okay, and then I'm doing a story on San Francisco's collapse because I'm there.” [05:12]

Episode Flow & Tone

The tone remains true to O’Reilly’s “no spin” brand: direct, critical of perceived media bias, and focused on relaying facts in a self-assured, conversational style. Listener questions provide a touch of humor and perspective, while the historical segment closes the episode on a reflective note.

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------|---------------| | Main News Updates | 00:09–02:39 | | O’Reilly Message (Epstein) | 03:34–05:00 | | Listener Mailbag | 05:00–06:20 | | Lincoln’s Birthday Segment| 06:21–07:50 |

Summary prepared for listeners seeking the facts and flavor of Bill O’Reilly’s reporting and commentary, without the spin.