Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis

Episode: The O’Reilly Update — February 24, 2026
Host: Bill O’Reilly
Contributor: Mike Slater

Episode Overview

In this episode of The O’Reilly Update, Bill O’Reilly and guest contributor Mike Slater deliver a brisk round-up of the day’s top news stories—including the fallout from the elimination of Mexico’s top cartel leader with reported U.S. Navy SEAL involvement, a record-breaking blizzard in the Northeast, and anticipation for the State of the Union address. Bill’s “Message of the Day” focuses on American pride following Team USA’s hockey gold, the value and pitfalls of nationalism, and a tip of the hat to both U.S. and Canadian teams. Listener mail addresses recent Supreme Court decisions, city and state budgets, and the constitutionality of federal election laws. Bill also marks the anniversary of Operation Desert Storm with reflections and lesser-known facts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Major National Headlines

(00:10 – 03:01 | Mike Slater)

• Drug Cartel Leader “El Mencho” Killed:

  • Mexican special forces, guided by U.S. Navy SEAL instructors, eliminated the Jalisco New Generation Cartel chief.
  • SEALs arrived in Mexico on Feb 15 with specialized gear, conducted secure training to prevent leaks ("they sequestered their phones and all communication devices to prevent any potential leaking of information" — Mike Slater, 00:59).
  • Aftermath: Outbreaks of cartel violence across Mexico; relative calm reported by Mexico’s president on Monday.

• Historic Blizzard Hits the Northeast:

  • Record snowfalls—33 inches in Rhode Island, 14 in Philly, 22 at LaGuardia, 20 in Central Park.
  • Over 500,000 power outages, thousands of flights cancelled.
  • Notably, this is NYC’s first "true" snow day in seven years: "Yesterday was the first real snow day where the kids could play in the snow" (Mike Slater, 01:51).

• State of the Union Address Anticipation:

  • Last year’s speech saw heckling (Congressman Al Green ejected for disruptive behavior).
  • This year: Dems urged to “challenge the president... discreetly” (Mike Slater, 02:19).
  • Team USA Women’s Hockey declines attendance, citing scheduling conflicts; Speaker Johnson seeks to honor them amid “jammed chambers.”

2. Message of the Day: National Pride & American Values

(03:01 – 05:11 | Bill O’Reilly)

• Team USA’s Olympic Gold in Hockey:
  • Widespread national uplift from the win.
  • Praises the team's "dignity and patriotism" and contrasts with negative portrayals of nationalism.
  • Addresses critics: "These are people who don’t much like the USA, believing we are not a noble country. Unfortunately, there are millions of these folks." (Bill O’Reilly, 03:27)
  • Defines nationalism and its positive/negative aspects, using Nazi Germany as a negative example but emphasizing that “pride in America is a very positive attribute and the hockey team displayed it.”
  • Notable sports analogy: "No Colin Kaepernick or Stevon Diggs in sight. The American values of hard work, teamwork, perseverance made the difference." (03:52)
  • Expresses goodwill toward Canadian team, calls for stronger U.S.-Canada ties: "Canada should be our closest ally. So a tip of the hat to both teams. They made us proud." (04:21)

3. Listener Mailbag: Legal and Civic Questions

(05:12 – 08:09 | Bill O’Reilly)

• Trump’s National Security Claims (Richard’s email):

  • Question on Trump’s use of national security for executive orders.
  • "Most of the national security stuff is true, like the Mexican stuff. But you're right, Richard, Supreme Court noticed the pattern behavior said we're going to blunt it." (Bill O’Reilly, 05:45)

• Tariff Refunds (Susan’s question):

  • Addresses whether the U.S. must refund money due to a Supreme Court decision.
  • "I do not believe anybody's going to get any refunds. Could be wrong, but probably not." (06:02)

• Balanced Budgets for Cities/States (Grace’s question):

  • Why can municipalities overspend? O’Reilly explains: "It's not against the law for municipalities to spend more money than they have...You have to pass a separate law, balanced budget amendment. None of these places do that." (06:25)

• The SAVE Act & State vs. Federal Election Authority (Steve Hill’s question):

  • Explains that Congress can regulate federal elections (requiring ID, citizenship), but states run their own election logistics.
  • "States adjudicate the election, but the feds have the power to regulate it... Feds could pass a law saying you don’t have to be an American citizen to vote. They'll never do that. But they could." (07:01)

4. “Something You Might Not Know” — Anniversary of Operation Desert Storm

(08:10 – 09:48 | Bill O’Reilly)

• Marks 35 Years Since the U.S. Invaded Iraq (Feb 24, 1991):
  • Recaps Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and the multinational coalition response.
  • Highlights Saddam Hussein’s miscalculation: "American society cannot accept 10,000 dead in one battle. They will not attack. Saddam was wrong." (08:44)
  • Describes the swift defeat—Kuwait liberated after four days, Iraqi army defeated in under 24 hours.
  • Refers to the campaign as “the most successful military campaign in history” and the “largest global coalition ever assembled.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Hockey & Nationalism:

  • "Not only was the team skilled on the ice, but it conducted itself with dignity and patriotism." (Bill O’Reilly, 03:06)
  • "No Colin Kaepernick or Stevon Diggs in sight. The American values of hard work, teamwork, perseverance made the difference." (Bill O’Reilly, 03:52)

• On Binational Cooperation:

  • "SEALs arrived on February 15th on a US air transport with their own equipment and weapons for the training seminars." (Mike Slater, 00:37)
  • "They sequestered their phones and all communication devices to prevent any potential leaking of information." (Mike Slater, 00:59)

• On Political Decorum:

  • "The House minority Leader, Jeffries, urged his members to challenge the president during the address, but to do so discreetly." (Mike Slater, 02:19)

• On Operation Desert Storm:

  • "It was also the largest global coalition ever assembled. Countries from every continent took place in the mission." (Bill O’Reilly, 09:37)

Important Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------|--------------| | Headlines with Mike Slater | 00:10 – 03:01| | Message of the Day (Hockey/Nationalism)| 03:01 – 05:11| | Listener Mailbag (Q&A) | 05:12 – 08:09| | Operation Desert Storm Anniversary| 08:10 – 09:48|

Tone & Style

The episode maintains Bill O’Reilly’s direct, opinionated, and patriotic tone, punctuated with factual reporting and his hallmark “no spin” approach. Commentary is sharp, occasionally sardonic, and always rooted in O’Reilly’s firm positions on American values and governance.

Conclusion

This episode provides a rapid, fact-driven briefing on national news and offers O’Reilly’s distinct commentary on American pride, civic processes, and military history. Its structure—clear segments, listener interactivity, and a mix of news and analysis—makes it a concise yet comprehensive summary of current events for listeners and non-listeners alike.