The O'Reilly Update, February 19, 2025

Summary

Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis: The O'Reilly Update – February 19, 2025

Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis delivers a comprehensive and incisive rundown of the day’s most pressing issues in America. In the February 19, 2025 episode titled "The O'Reilly Update," host Bill O'Reilly, alongside guest Mike Slater, navigates through a spectrum of topics ranging from international diplomacy and national security to extreme weather events and media criticism. This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented in the episode, complete with notable quotes and timestamps for reference.

1. US-Russia Diplomatic Relations and Saudi Summit

The episode opens with Mike Slater providing an overview of significant developments in US-Russia relations following a high-profile meeting in Saudi Arabia. Key figures such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump's favored negotiator Steve Witkoff, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz were present in discussions with Russian counterparts.

Key Points:

• Restoration of Diplomatic Missions: Both nations agreed to restore the diplomatic functions of their missions in Washington and Moscow, marking a tentative step towards thawing relations.

• Future Negotiations: The next round of talks is slated to address territorial and security guarantees, aiming to establish a framework for lasting peace and cooperation.

• Economic Partnership: The US is optimistic about forging a historic economic partnership post-conflict, although no specific date has been set for a direct meeting between President Trump and President Putin.

• Concessions for Peace: Secretary Rubio emphasized that ending the conflict requires mutual concessions, stating, “We are not going to predetermine what those are” ([00:09]).

2. CIA Drone Surveillance Over Mexico

Slater shifts focus to national security, highlighting the CIA’s drone operations over Mexico in pursuit of fentanyl production facilities managed by Mexican cartels.

Key Points:

• Designation of Cartels as Terrorist Organizations: Under President Trump’s directive, Mexican cartels have been labeled as foreign terrorist organizations, potentially paving the way for direct US strikes against drug laboratories.

• Operational Details: According to a US official cited by the New York Times, the unarmed drone flights extensively cover sovereign Mexican airspace, aiming to gather intelligence and collaborate with Mexican authorities.

• Diplomatic Sensitivities: It remains unclear whether Mexico was informed about these surveillance missions prior to their commencement, raising questions about sovereignty and diplomatic protocols.

3. Confirmation of Howard Lutnick and FBI Leadership Prospects

The Senate has confirmed Howard Lutnick as Trump’s Secretary of Commerce, reinforcing the administration’s stance on reciprocal tariffs.

Key Points:

• Tariff Policies: Trump asserts, “We will impose the exact same tariff on them. We're not creating a tariff. We're responding to tariffs” ([00:09], Slater). This reciprocal approach aims to counteract existing trade barriers imposed by other nations.

• Upcoming FBI Leadership Vote: Following Lutnick’s confirmation, the Senate has initiated a 30-hour clock to confirm the next head of the FBI, with Cash Patel identified as a highly contentious nominee (“maybe the left's most hated pick”) ([00:09]).

4. Extreme Cold Weather and Its Impact

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the severe cold wave affecting the United States, with widespread weather advisories and tragic human costs.

Key Points:

• Temperature Extremes: One-third of Americans are under extreme cold warnings, with temperatures plummeting up to 50 degrees below normal February averages in some regions ([00:09], Slater).

• Casualties and Missing Persons: The recent storm has resulted in at least 15 fatalities, including two in West Virginia and twelve in Kentucky, with one individual still missing ([00:09]).

• Geographical Spread: States such as Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas are expected to receive up to a foot of snow, while wind chills have reached perilous lows—down to negative 60 degrees, even affecting areas as far south as Texas ([00:09], Slater).

5. Message of the Day: Elon Musk and Media Criticism

Transitioning from the news segment, Bill O’Reilly delivers his "Message of the Day," focusing on Elon Musk’s contentious remarks about media personalities.

Key Points:

• Elon Musk’s Critique of CBS News: Musk suggested that the operators of 60 Minutes should be imprisoned, a statement that O’Reilly examines critically.

  “Maybe my outrage level is stunted. Perhaps I'm jaded and should be more protective of our constitutional guarantees. But Mr. Musk's disenchantment with CBS News is not even annoying to me” ([03:05], O’Reilly).

• Media Bias and Manufactured Outrage: O’Reilly argues that Musk’s frustration stems from a perceived left-wing bias in organizations like CBS, which he claims are intent on portraying the Trump administration negatively.

  “Manufactured outrage is now a political and social weapon. And because Donald Trump is president, the toolbox will be constantly open for the next four years on both sides” ([03:05], O’Reilly).

• Constitutional Reflections: Despite Musk’s extreme statement, O’Reilly underscores the importance of constitutional protections, dismissing the notion of incarcerating news entities as implausible.

6. Listener Mail Segment

In the interactive segment, O’Reilly addresses questions from listeners, providing clarifications and his perspectives on various topics.

Key Points:

• USAID’s Origins: Responding to Jim Daniel from Huntington, West Virginia, O’Reilly confirms that the USAID was indeed created by an executive order from President Kennedy in 1961 and later incorporated into the federal system by Congress in 1998.

  “President Kennedy, 1961 EO created the USAID. It was then in 1998 passed by Congress and into the federal system” ([03:05], O’Reilly).

• Critique of Progressive Figures: Addressing Patricia from Taos, New Mexico, O’Reilly criticizes Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (referred to as "Alon") for allegedly lacking the authority to manage discovered funds, emphasizing the limitations of her power.

  “Nowhere, because he doesn't have the power to take it... He just spotlights it” ([03:05], O’Reilly).

7. Democrats' Opposition to Elon Musk and Historical Context

O’Reilly delves deeper into the political dynamics surrounding Elon Musk, drawing parallels with historical presidential practices.

Key Points:

• Democratic Disdain for Musk: He asserts that Democrats have found a new adversary in Musk, who challenges their fiscal policies and wasteful government spending through initiatives like the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

• Historical Parallel with JFK and FDR: O’Reilly contextualizes Musk’s role by comparing it to the inner circles of past Democratic presidents. He cites FDR’s “Brain Trust” and JFK’s advisory teams as similar non-elected groups that significantly influenced policy without formal confirmation.

  “John F. Kennedy and Franklin Roosevelt did exactly the same thing President Trump is doing” ([03:05], O’Reilly).

• Current Administration’s Approach: Drawing a direct comparison, O’Reilly highlights Trump’s appointment of Musk as a “special government employee,” suggesting that Musk’s role is a continuation of leveraging expert counsel outside traditional electoral processes.

8. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

O’Reilly wraps up the episode by reiterating his commitment to providing unvarnished facts and encouraging listeners to engage with his content through various platforms.

Key Points:

• Encouragement to Subscribe: He prompts listeners to subscribe to the No Spin News newsletter for comprehensive updates and analysis.

  “Please subscribe to our newsletter on billoriley.com keep track of all things O'Reilly” ([03:05], O’Reilly).

• Closing Statement: Ending with his signature sign-off, O’Reilly reaffirms the podcast's mission.

  “I am Bill O'Reilly. No spin, just facts. And always looking out for” ([End]).

Notable Quotes and Timestamps

• On Diplomatic Concessions:

  “We are not going to predetermine what those are.” ([00:09] Slater)

• On Reciprocal Tariffs:

  “We will impose the exact same tariff on them. We're not creating a tariff. We're responding to tariffs.” ([00:09] Slater)

• On Elon Musk’s Critique of Media:

  “Mr. Musk's disenchantment with CBS News is not even annoying to me. It's expected.” ([03:05] O’Reilly)

• On Manufactured Outrage:

  “Manufactured outrage is now a political and social weapon.” ([03:05] O’Reilly)

• On USAID’s Creation:

  “President Kennedy, 1961 EO created the USAID.” ([03:05] O’Reilly)

• On Historical Presidential Inner Circles:

  “John F. Kennedy and Franklin Roosevelt did exactly the same thing President Trump is doing.” ([03:05] O’Reilly)

Conclusion

The February 19, 2025 episode of The O'Reilly Update offers a multifaceted examination of contemporary issues affecting America. From high-stakes international diplomacy and covert national security operations to the brutal impacts of extreme weather and sharp critiques of media practices, Bill O’Reilly and Mike Slater deliver a narrative that underscores the complexities of modern governance and societal challenges. By interweaving listener interactions and historical parallels, the episode not only informs but also invites critical reflection on the state of American politics and media today.

Transcript

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

Here you are listening to the O'Reilly update. Coming up next, the news with Mike Slater.

[A]

Thank you, bill. It's Wednesday, February 19, 2025. Here's what's happening today in America. Saudi summit drones over Mexico, Lutnick confirmed. And it's cold outside. It's all coming up. Then Bill's gonna be here with your message of the day. But first, Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff and Mike Waltz. Those are our Secretary of State, Trump's favorite negotiator guy. And Mike Waltz is national security adviser. They met with Russians in Saudi Arabia. Some things that came out of this first meeting. US And Russia will restore diplomatic functions of missions in Washington and Moscow. The next set of talks will deal with territory and security guarantees. America said that we're looking at a historic economic partnership at the end of the conflict and no date has been set yet for a Trump Putin meeting. Our secretary of state said in order to bring an end to any conflict, there has to be concessions made by all sides. We are not going to predetermine what those are. The CIA is running drone flights over Mexico. They are currently unarmed, said to be searching for fentanyl labs run by Mexican cartels, which Donald Trump has now designated as foreign terrorist organizations. One U.S. official told the New York Times the flights go well into sovereign Mexico. We're told that the CIA is going to gather intel data and pass it along to Mexican officials. It is believed that labeling these cartels as terrorist groups could potentially lay the groundwork for direct US Strikes against cartels and their drug labs in Mexico. It is unknown if the US Notified Mexico of these surveillance flights prior to entering Mexican airspace. Trump's secretary of commerce choice, Howard Lutnick, has been confirmed by the Senate. He will be leading Trump's effort in reciprocal tariffs, which Trump said we will impose on every nation in the world. Whoever has a tariff on us, we will impose the exact same tariff on them. Trump's not creating a tariff. He's responding to tariffs. The US Senate, after confirming Howard Lutnick, started the 30 hour clock on the confirmation of the future head of the FBI. Maybe the left's most hated pick, Cash Patel. That vote will be on Thursday. It's very cold outside and it is winter, but it's very cold and for a lot of people. One in three Americans are under an extreme cold watch or warning. 35 states with weather advisories. At least 15 people died from this last weekend storm. Two in West Virginia, 12 in Kentucky. One person remains missing from West Virginia. Parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas are going to get a foot of snow in the Plains states. Wind chills up to negative 60, 660 below zero. Wind chills hitting below zero as far south as Arkansas and parts of Texas. Yeah, I joked that it is winter after all. But still, this is so cold that some places will see temperatures 50 degrees below normal February averages. I'm Mike Slater from the podcast Politics by Faith. The great Bill O'Reilly has your message of the day next.

[B]

President Trump's victory is a win for for America. It's what most voters think. But bidenomics has left us with a failing economy. I rely on American Hartford Gold to protect my savings with physical gold and silver. And you should consider that American Hartford Gold has thousands of five star ratings and an A from the Better Business Bureau. A tax advantage gold Iraq can shield you from worsening inflation. You can even roll over your 401k or IRA tax free and penalty free. So act now before it's too late. Call or text American Hartford Gold. Tell them Bill O'Reilly sent you for up to $15,000 of free silver on qualifying orders. Call 877-444-GOLD or TAX GOLD to 65532. That's 877444 gold or TAX GOLD to 65532. Time now for the O'Reilly update message of the day on this Wednesday. Let me ask you a personal question. Do you care that Elon Musk thinks the people who run 60 minutes should be put in prison? Does his statement on X offend you? Are you bothered and bewildered or what? Maybe my outrage level is stunted. Perhaps I'm jaded and should be more protective of our constitutional guarantees. But Mr. Musk's disenchantment with CBS News is not even annoying to me. It's expected. CBS doesn't like him, doesn't like Trump, MAGA or anything else on the right. It is a left wing organization trying to convince a country the Trump administration is dastardly and Mr. Musk is a menace to society. So what does anyone care anymore what 60 Minutes says? Prison for news purveyors is not an option, but a mention of it gets people's attention. And that's why Elon Musk put it out there. He wanted to vent. So that's what he did. As Tom Jones once sang, it's not unusual. The sad fact of life is that manufactured outrage is now a political and social weapon. And because Donald Trump is president, the toolbox will be constantly open for the next four years on both sides. It's kind of appalling, but I don't really care. I'm Bill O'Reilly. I approve the message by writing it. You can reach me billorilly.com, billoriley.com name in town if you wish to opine. All right. Let's go to the mail. We have Jim Daniel, Huntington, West Virginia. The USAID website says it was created by executive order. Is that true? It is True. President Kennedy, 1961 EO created the USAID. It was then in 1998 passed by Congress and into the federal system. But Kennedy started it. Patricia, surely Taos, New Mexico. Taos is a nice town. Okay. Where is all the money going that Alon has found? Nowhere, because he doesn't have the power to take it. As I said, top of the show. He just spotlights it. See, everybody thinks this is man. I long for the days when there was accurate reporting in this country. It'll never happen again. Jack Concierge member jackets a direct pipeline to the O'Reilly team by being a concierge member and a free book. It's President's Week. If you haven't read Killing, Killing confronting the president's 22 consecutive weeks on a New York Times bestseller list, sign up for concierge or premium membership. Get it free. And if you get in trouble, my team will help. Jack BILL Donald Trump had to appoint Elon Musk to the post because none of the elected officials has ever shown they could get the job done. Good point. Including Trump. He had four years. He spent a lot of money. But I know it was Covid military. He wasn't like Biden who was just derelict crazy spender targeted. But you're right, he had to put somebody in there to shake it up. In a moment, something you might not know. Please subscribe to our newsletter on billoriley.com keep track of all things O'Reilly. That's me. Like the message of the day, my column the no spin news and much more. When you sign up for our [e-mail] it's free. You'll get emails letting you know what is going on and you won't miss a thing. Now the O'Reilly update brings you something you might not know. Democrats may have finally found a person they hate as much as Donald Trump and his name is Elon Musk. The South African born billionaire has enraged liberal lawmakers like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren because he wants to analyze taxpayer dollars to cut wasteful spending. The Department of Government of Efficiency, or doge, is unlawful. Critics say Elon Musk is running the White House is the other lament. What they fail to consider is that Democratic icons John F. Kennedy and Franklin Roosevelt did exactly the same thing President Trump is doing. FDR called his unelected inner circle the brain trust. The cadre was responsible for much of the legislation of the first 100 days, which ended in June 1933. During his first presidential campaign, Roosevelt assembled a group of academics and intellectuals to counsel him on on policy. Members included three Columbia University professors, Raymond Moley, Rexford, Guy Tugwell and Adolph Burleigh. It also included a few big fundraisers for Roosevelt. Now, these unknown men were instrumental in creating dozens of government agencies, including the Social Security Board, securities and Exchange Commission, Federal Housing Administration, the fcc, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, better known as the fdic. All of that created by unelected officials. Three decades later, President John F. Kennedy at his own brain trust. The inner circle included his brother Bobby, Kenneth O'Donnell, a special assistant, Dave Powers, another special assistant, and his speechwriter, Theodore Sorensen. None of them were appointed, none of them confirmed. But now, 61 years after the assassination of JFK, Donald Trump has named Elon Musk as a, quote, special government employee. Well, all hell is breaking loose. Why? Because of Trump hatred, that's why. Let's give this doge a chance. Back after this. Thank you for listening to the O'Reilly update. I am Bill O'Reilly. No spin, just facts. And always looking out for.