Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis
Episode: The O’Reilly Update, February 22, 2025

In the February 22, 2025 episode of Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis, host Bill O’Reilly delivers a comprehensive roundup of the latest political developments, economic shifts, and international relations impacting America. The episode is structured into two main segments: Mike Slater’s News Update and Bill O’Reilly’s Message of the Day. Below is a detailed summary capturing the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented during the episode.

Mike Slater’s News Update

1. Appointment of Cash Patel as FBI Director
Mike Slater opens the news segment by announcing Cash Patel’s confirmation as the new head of the FBI. He highlights Patel’s controversial remarks during his nomination, including his plan to transform the historic FBI Hoover Building into a museum of the deep state.

“Cash said in an interview that if he were ever running the FBI, he would shut down the FBI Hoover Building on day one and reopen it the next day as a museum of the deep state.” (00:40)

Patel’s confirmation was narrowly secured with a 51 to 49 vote, with Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voting against his appointment. Slater emphasizes the significance of this leadership change amidst ongoing debates about the FBI’s role and efficiency.

2. Reduction of IRS Workforce and Economic Policy Shifts
The update moves to the firing of 6,000 IRS employees, representing about 6% of the agency’s workforce. Slater notes that these employees are primarily probationary and have been with the agency for less than a year.

“6,000 IRS employees are being fired. This would eliminate about 6% of the agency's workforce.” (01:15)

He contrasts this move with former President Joe Biden’s proposal to increase IRS staffing by 80,000, suggesting a significant policy reversal under the current administration. Slater further explains that Donald Trump’s new Commerce Secretary aims to eliminate the IRS entirely, replacing income tax with tariff revenue. This aligns with statements from Trump’s National Economic Council Director, who echoed the goal of removing income tax.

3. Rejection of Doge Dividend Proposal
Slater briefly touches on Trump’s dismissal of the Doge dividend idea, which proposed distributing 20% of Dogecoin savings to American taxpayers.

“Trump threw out the idea of a doge dividend where 20% of all doge savings goes right to the American people.” (01:45)

He breaks down the potential financial impact, estimating $5,000 per taxpayer from a $2 trillion reduction in federal spending, with the remaining funds allocated to national debt repayment.

4. U.S.-Ukraine Relations and Mineral Wealth Negotiations
Addressing foreign policy, Slater reports that Trump administration officials have instructed Ukraine to cease negative rhetoric towards the U.S. and President Trump. Additionally, he mentions negotiations for Ukraine to hand over half of its mineral wealth to the United States as repayment for American investments.

“Scott Besant, our treasury secretary, was just in Ukraine where he told Zelensky that half of Ukraine's mineral wealth would be a nice repayment for all the money we've spent in Ukraine.” (02:30)

5. Team USA vs. Canada Hockey Finals and International Competition Implications
The segment concludes with a sports-related discussion about the Team USA vs. Canada Hockey Finals, where Canada emerged victorious in overtime with a score of 3 to 2. Slater speculates on the potential fallout, questioning whether Trump will allow Canada to continue competing independently in international competitions, akin to Puerto Rico’s separate national baseball team.

“It's going to be interesting to see if Trump lets Canada compete as its own country in international competitions or not.” (02:55)

Slater hints that this could jeopardize Canada’s participation in future international events, marking a significant shift in diplomatic and sporting relations.

Bill O’Reilly’s Message of the Day

1. Elon Musk Controversy and Defense of Trump’s Leadership
Transitioning to his personal commentary, Bill O’Reilly addresses the Elon Musk controversy, labeling it as contrived and foolish. He criticizes activists for their role in fueling misinformation and defends President Trump’s appointment of Musk to a governmental role.

“The entire Elon Musk controversy is contrived, foolish and peddled by activists ignorant of American history.” (04:00)

O’Reilly draws parallels between Trump’s actions and those of past presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) and John F. Kennedy (JFK), highlighting the use of unelected advisors or "brain trusts" to manage governmental affairs.

“What Mr. Trump has done is the same thing FDR and JFK did. No difference whatsoever.” (05:10)

2. Historical Comparisons: FDR and JFK’s Advising Circles
He elaborates on FDR’s and JFK’s methods of appointing influential, unelected individuals to key advisory positions, arguing that Trump’s appointment of Elon Musk follows a similar tradition.

“President Roosevelt brought in a fellow New Yorker named Harry Hopkins in 1933 to advise him on how to deal with the Great Depression.” (05:30)
“President Kennedy had his own brain trust... none of them were appointed, none of them confirmed.” (06:05)

3. Critique of Democratic Opposition and Doge Initiative
O’Reilly criticizes the anti-Musk faction within the Trump camp, suggesting their opposition is driven by hatred rather than substantive concerns. He also touches upon the Doge initiative, expressing uncertainty about its success but asserting that it deserves a chance.

“Most have no interest in pursuing the truth. It's way too hard now. I don't know, Elon Musk. This Doge business might pay off. It might not, but it deserves a chance.” (07:00)

4. Audience Q&A: Debunking Misinformation
In response to listener mail, O’Reilly addresses several misconceptions:

• USAID Establishment: He refutes claims that USAID was established through an executive order, clarifying that it was established by Congress in 1961 under President JFK.

  “No, I will not, Louie, because It's not true. 1961 JFK President, Congress established USAID.” (07:30)

• Department of Education Disbandment: O’Reilly explains that President Trump cannot unilaterally disband the Department of Education, emphasizing that only Congress holds that authority.

  “President Trump wants to disband the Department of Education. Why did he Bother appointing Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education? Because he can't disband it.” (08:00)

• NATO Membership Negotiations: He comments on the failed negotiations with Putin regarding NATO membership for Ukraine, asserting that removing NATO from the table would have been necessary for Putin’s participation.

  “You got to take NATO off the table for Ukraine or Putin's not showing up at the table.” (08:25)

• Catholic Charities Funding Misconception: O’Reilly corrects the misinformation that Catholic Charities received $2 billion, clarifying that the actual amount was $5.5 million designated for humanitarian purposes.

  “Catholic Charities received $5.5 million in 2024 fiscal year. Not 2 billion.” (08:38)

5. Conclusion and Final Thoughts
O’Reilly wraps up his message by reiterating his support for President Trump’s policies and criticizing the Democratic opposition’s stance on figures like Elon Musk. He calls for giving initiatives like Doge a fair chance despite political resistance.

“Donald Trump has named Elon Musk as a quote, special government employee. Well, all hell is breaking loose. Why? Because of Trump. Hate hatred, that's why.” (09:00)

Closing Remarks

The episode concludes with a brief promotional segment encouraging listeners to visit billoreilly.com for more news and analysis. Throughout the episode, O’Reilly emphasizes his commitment to presenting facts without spin, aligning with the show's tagline, "No Spin. Just Facts."

Notable Quotes:

• “Cash said in an interview that if he were ever running the FBI, he would shut down the FBI Hoover Building on day one and reopen it the next day as a museum of the deep state.” — Mike Slater (00:40)

• “The entire Elon Musk controversy is contrived, foolish and peddled by activists ignorant of American history.” — Bill O’Reilly (04:00)

• “What Mr. Trump has done is the same thing FDR and JFK did. No difference whatsoever.” — Bill O’Reilly (05:10)

• “You got to take NATO off the table for Ukraine or Putin's not showing up at the table.” — Bill O’Reilly (08:25)

This episode of The O’Reilly Update offers a critical examination of current political shifts, economic policies, and international relations, framed through O’Reilly’s conservative lens. Listeners are provided with insights into the implications of leadership changes, workforce reductions in federal agencies, and the broader impact of Trump’s administration on both domestic and global stages.