Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis

The O'Reilly Update, January 9, 2026

Host: Bill O'Reilly
News Anchor: Mike Slater
Episode Theme: Analysis of ICE shooting controversy, Iran protests, War Powers Act, and the evolution of college football, with a focus on media narratives, law enforcement, and policy implications.

Episode Overview

This episode opens with a rapid-fire news roundup by Mike Slater, focusing on the controversy surrounding an ICE agent-involved shooting in Minnesota, escalating protests in Iran, and recent legislative developments regarding presidential war powers. Bill O'Reilly then delivers a message of the day centered on media influence, public persuasion, and the challenges in evaluating high-profile incidents. The episode concludes with a historical look at college football and new rules around athlete compensation.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. ICE Shooting Controversy

[00:09 – 01:20]

• Incident Recap: An ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Special Response Team agent shot and killed a woman who drove her vehicle at him. The agent, highly trained and previously injured in a similar incident, was targeted while enforcing immigration law.
• Political Commentary:
  • Congressman Daniel Godlin criticized ICE agents as “untrained thugs”—a claim refuted by highlighting their extensive training.
  • The Vice President directly confronted media coverage, particularly a CNN headline, for omitting details about the woman’s intent to “interfere with a legitimate law enforcement operation” and potential links to “a broader left-wing network.”
  • Broader accusations that certain groups use “domestic terror techniques” to undermine immigration law enforcement.

Notable Quote

• Vice President on media spin:
  “If the media wants to tell the truth, they ought to tell the truth, that a group of left wing radicals have been working tirelessly, sometimes using domestic terror techniques to try to make it impossible for the president of the United States to do what the American people elected him to do, which is to enforce our immigration laws.” (00:44)

2. International Focus: Iran Protests and War Powers Act

[01:21 – 02:00]

• Iran:

  • Protests in Iran are more intense and sustained than in previous years—now over 12 days.
  • Signs of significant dissent, including chants of “Long live the Shah” and protesters renaming a Tehran street to “Donald Trump Street.”
  • Inflation in Iran at 40%, fueling civil unrest.

• U.S. Legislative Update:

  • Senate passed a War Resolutions Act to limit presidential military action in Venezuela (52 votes in favor), but unlikely to survive a presidential veto.
  • Five Republican senators joined Democrats in the vote.

Notable Quote

• On Iran protests:
  “These protests lately seem different than ones in the past…Protesters changed the name of a street in Tehran to Donald Trump Street.” – Mike Slater (01:32)

3. The Art and Challenge of Persuasion

[03:02 – 04:53]

• O'Reilly’s Message of the Day:
  • Persuasion is inherently difficult—people “believe what they want to believe,” often regardless of evidence.
  • Referencing the Minneapolis ICE incident:
    • Reactions polarized immediately along ideological lines, before facts were established.
    • Emphasizes that full, methodical investigation (forensics, officer testimony) is required to make informed judgments.
    • Cites the George Floyd case as an exemplar of thorough legal review.

Notable Quotes

• On belief and evidence:
  “Many human beings, no matter what evidence you give them…if they don’t want to believe it, they’re not going to believe it.” – Bill O’Reilly (03:10)
• On media narratives:
  “Within minutes, people formed an opinion of what actually went down…before any evidence, before any tape, whatever.” – Bill O’Reilly (03:35)
• On investigative standards:
  “You cannot make a determination on a shooting from television videotape. You would need an enhanced, very, very methodical presentation, which is what would happen in a court of law.” – Bill O’Reilly (04:00)

4. Listener Mail: ICE Shooting Analysis

[04:54 – 06:35]

• Robert Parsh (Scottsdale, AZ):

  • Expresses difficulty understanding the ICE agent’s actions from available video, questions the justification for use of force.
  • O’Reilly responds: Determinations require enhanced, frame-by-frame video analysis and firsthand testimony—not just public video or TV news.

• Greg Jensen (Rockford, IL):

  • Retired police lieutenant notes that vehicles are commonly treated as deadly weapons if driven intentionally at officers, but concedes it’s impossible to know the woman’s intent.

Notable Quote

• O’Reilly on due process:
  “You need an enhanced video frame by frame, slowed down…You’d have to have the officer’s testimony, too, what he was seeing and thinking from his vantage point.” (05:27)

5. Something You Might Not Know: College Football Evolution

[07:00 – 09:15]

• History:

  • College football’s roots go back to 1869; originally closer to rugby.
  • NCAA brought order in the 1950s, leading to today’s economic powerhouse.
  • Top college teams now generate over $100 million annually.

• Academic Standards:

  • Decline in athlete academic requirements compared to past decades.
  • Most college football players do not make it to the NFL.

• New Athlete Compensation:

  • For the first time, college athletes can receive payment: endorsements (name and likeness) and revenue sharing.
  • Example: Arch Manning, the highest-paid college football player, earned $7 million.

Notable Quote

• “Today, less than 1% of college players go on to the pros. Most take jobs in physical therapy, coaching, those kinds of fields…For the first time, college athletes are getting paid.” – Bill O’Reilly (08:26)

Memorable Moments & Timestamps

• 00:44 – Vice President critiques media for coverage of ICE shooting.
• 01:32 – Unusual signs of anti-regime sentiment in Iran.
• 03:10 – O’Reilly on difficulty of persuasion and public belief.
• 04:00 – Emphasis on thorough legal process and avoiding snap judgments.
• 05:27 – O’Reilly details investigative rigor needed in police shootings.
• 08:26 – O’Reilly discusses athlete compensation “for the first time.”

Tone & Style

• The episode maintains O’Reilly’s trademark direct, fact-focused, and occasionally skeptical tone, confronting both media narratives and public perceptions. O’Reilly emphasizes legal rigor, due process, and skepticism toward snap judgments, cautioning against being swayed by emotional or partisan reporting.

Summary Takeaways

• On Law Enforcement Incidents: Public opinion rapidly polarizes, often ahead of facts—a caution to seek comprehensive investigation before rushing to judgment.
• On International Affairs: Major shifts are underway in Iran, with potential global impact.
• On Policy: Legislative checks on executive war powers face political hurdles.
• On Sports & Society: College football remains a cultural and economic powerhouse, undergoing major changes with new athlete compensation rules.

For more, including listener mail and historical insights, visit BillOReilly.com.