The O'Reilly Update, July 16, 2026

Summary

The O'Reilly Update – July 16, 2026

Host: Bill O’Reilly
Date: July 16, 2026
Main Theme: No-spin analysis of current news headlines and the economy, with listener mail, historic trivia, and a message of the day criticizing progressive economic rhetoric.

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Episode Overview

This episode of The O’Reilly Update delivers a brisk roundup of American news headlines, a pointed editorial on Democratic economic rhetoric, commentary on law enforcement scrutiny, and a historical segment about banned kisses during pandemics. With his signature tone—direct, skeptical, and sometimes acerbic—O’Reilly provides listeners with a fact-focused digest, sidestepping the excesses of partisan spin.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. National News Roundup

Host: Mike Slater ([00:24]–[03:17])

• ICE Traffic Stops Policy

  • Former Homeland Security directive paused ICE vehicle stops; presidential order reversed the pause.
  • The president’s reasoning: “...we must be strong, tough and smart. And we cannot give up on one of ICE's most important and effective crime fighting tools, the traffic stop. Once we do, we are playing right into the criminal's hands.” ([01:04])
  • ICE reminded to be “judicious, fair and smart.”

• Fatal ICE Shooting in Maine

  • Incident: Colombian national with outstanding removal order shot and killed after fleeing traffic stop.
  • “...the suspect attempted to flee in the vehicle in the direction of the officer and was fatally shot.” ([01:50])

• DOJ Nomination: Todd Blanch

  • Acting Attorney General faces Senate confirmation.
  • "He cannot have a single Republican defect and vote against him. John Cornyn seems to be the biggest obstacle." ([02:00])

• Canadian Wildfires and Air Quality

  • 830+ ongoing wildfires; smoke affects millions in the Midwest/Northeast.
  • “Pictures of these cities are bright orange... Niagara Falls, it's hard to breathe there.” ([02:22])

• Daylight Saving Time Legislation

  • House passes the "Sunshine Protection Act of 2025," aiming for permanent DST.
  • “President supports it.” ([02:56])

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2. Editorial: Message of the Day – Progressive Economic Rhetoric

Host: Bill O’Reilly ([03:58]–[06:31])

• Critique of Democratic "Affordability" Messaging

  • “Progressive politicians are running around the country screaming affordability, affordability, like Paul Revere. But when you ask them how they would lower prices in America, they don't have a blanking clue, nothing.” ([04:08])
  • Argues federal government lacks the authority to set prices/wages in a free market.

• Targeting NYC Councilman Zohran Mamdani

  • Cited as “most effective mouthpiece” for promising rent freezes, free food, other benefits.
  • O’Reilly: “He's got the power to do that, but on the federal level, you don't. So Mamdani is obviously seeking to circumvent the capitalistic system. That's what communists do.” ([04:32])

• Free Market vs. State Control

  • Warns against “state taking over the means of production” and compares suggested policies to Cuba’s.
  • “If you want a communist country, you can control prices and wages. Hello, Cuba. But not in a free market economy.” ([04:49])

• Personal Responsibility Commentary

  • “If you have no money in the bank, it's likely your own fault unless you have an infirmity. There are many ways to support yourself in America, many options to make honest money.” ([05:00])
  • Blames expanding poverty on lack of financial literacy and responsibility.

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3. Listener Mail: On Scrutiny of Law Enforcement

Host: Bill O’Reilly ([06:31]–[07:40])

• Criticism from Listener (David)
  • Accused of having a "simplistic attitude" on law enforcement and ICE safety.
• O’Reilly’s Response
  • Defends his thoroughness: “You cannot impeach what I am telling you. That’s number one.” ([06:33])
  • Emphasizes critical scrutiny of all political figures: “I don’t care whether you’re Republican or a Democrat or an Independent or anything... That is gold in media today. And the reason I get away with this is because I run my companies. Nobody tells me what to do.” ([07:10])

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4. Something You Might Not Know: Kissing Bans in Pandemics

Host: Bill O’Reilly ([07:40]–[10:24])

• Historical Anecdote

  • “587 years ago today, the king of England banned kissing. The drastic measure was designed to slow the spread of a deadly disease known as the Black Death.” ([07:44])
  • Description of plague impact, ban origins under Henry VI, and parallels with later pandemics (e.g., Spanish flu).
  • NY Health Commissioner in 1918: "'If you must kiss. Kiss via kerchief.' Copeland apparently believing kissing through his silk scarf could stop the disease. He was wrong.” ([09:00])

• Science of Kissing and Disease

  • “Health experts say a peck on the lips contains 80 million forms of bacteria, making it one of the most popular ways to spread disease.” ([09:27])
  • Longest kiss on record: “58 hours, 35 minutes, 58 seconds.” ([09:38])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• O’Reilly on Democratic rhetoric:
  “They don’t know how, they can’t do what they want to do... If you want a communist country, you can control prices and wages. Hello, Cuba. But not in a free market economy.” ([04:44])

• On personal responsibility:
  “If you have no money in the bank, it’s likely your own fault unless you have an infirmity.” ([05:00])

• On media independence:
  “You should be happy that I am scrutinizing those in power. You should be delirious with joy that I do it. And everyone watching should be the same way because no one else does. All have agendas. I have no agenda.” ([06:48])

• Historical curiosity:
  “In 1439, King Henry VI issued a proclamation to stop people from intimate contact... The penalty for breaking the law was death. However, there are no records of executions ever being enforced in this dictum.” ([07:57])

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:24] News Headlines with Mike Slater
• [03:17] Transition to O’Reilly’s segments
• [03:58] Message of the Day: Critique on Democratic economics
• [06:31] Listener Mail: Scrutiny of law enforcement attitudes
• [07:40] Historical segment: Banned kisses in pandemics
• [10:56] Show outro

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Summary

Bill O’Reilly’s July 16, 2026, update delivers his trademark blend of current events, unfiltered analysis, and quirky historical trivia. The main focus is a critique of progressive economic policies and messaging—castigated as impractical and “communist.” O’Reilly staunchly defends his critical, agenda-free stance and closes with an engaging story about pandemic-era kissing bans, peppered with facts and light skepticism. The episode exemplifies O’Reilly’s no-nonsense, combative approach while offering listeners both substantive news and entertaining asides.

Transcript

[Doug]

And we're live on Matchday as Doug reaches for a Buffalo wing. He's got it. Oh, and he's gone for a can of Pepsi, too. What a finish. There's no doubt about it. It just tastes better. Matchdays deserve Pepsi.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Bill O'Reilly here. You are listening to the O'Reilly Update. Coming up next, the news with Mike Slater.

[Mike Slater]

Thank you, Bill. It is Thursday, July 16, 2026. Here's what's happening today in America. Stops are back on Blanche questioned Canada's burning and daylight saving closer to permanency. That's all coming up. Then Bill is going to be here with your message of the day. First, just the other day, the head of Homeland Security, Mark Wayne Mullen gave the directive to stop all ICE related traffic stops. Well, the president just overturned this temporary pause. The original memo said all personnel are instructed to prioritize other existing operational methods outside of vehicle stops to conduct immigration enforcement. Well, the president just said in order to deport illegal aliens, we must be strong, tough and smart. And we cannot give up on one of ice's most important and effective crime fighting tools, the traffic stop. Once we do, we are playing right into the criminal's hands. The radical left Democrats would like to see this done, but it won't happen on my watch. Ice, be judicious, fair and smart and go back and do your very important job. Keep those crime stat records coming. Remember, you are loved and respected in America. We have a little more information about the Colombian national in Maine who was shot and killed by an ICE officer. An ICE spokesperson says that the agency was conducting targeted surveillance on the last known address of an illegal alien with a final order of removal. When an illegal alien departed the residents in a vehicle, agents attempted to conduct a vehicle stop. The vehicle attempted to flee the scene. And fearing for public safety, an officer discharged his weapon. The main attorney general's office said the suspect attempted to flee in the vehicle in the direction of the officer and was fatally shot. The acting attorney general, Todd Blanch, had a confirmation hearing yesterday, part of his hearing to be the full time head of the Department of Justice to get the nomination. He cannot have a single Republican defect and vote against him. John Cornyn seems to be the biggest obstacle. Remember, Trump endorsed Cornyn's challenger and Texas and Cornyn embarrassingly lost that primary. More than 830 wildfires were burning in Canada yesterday and the smoke is now coming. US Dangerous air conditions for millions of Americans across the upper Midwest and the Northeast. On top of that, temperatures into the triple digits. Pictures of these cities are bright orange. It's not expected to be as bad in New York City as it was in 2023 during the Canadian wildfires then. But Niagara Falls, it's hard to breathe there. The House passed a bill to make daylight savings permanent, 308 to 117 bipartisan, the Sunshine Protection act of 2025. It's off to the Senate. Now. The Senate in 2022 passed a similar bill, but the House never passed it. Now the House passed it and we'll see what the Senate does. The president supports it. I had the honor of being a guest on Bill O'Reilly's no Spin News show. You can find that on his YouTube page and also YouTube.com politicsbyfaith Bill has your message of the day.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Next.

[Mike Baker]

Hey, if you're here listening, you know you don't want spin, right? You know that Bill knows that bill does not mess with the spin. You want it straight. So here's a straight recommendation. I'm Mike Baker, former CIA officer, and every day on the President's Daily Brief, I do for national security and geopolitics exactly what this show does for the news. No agenda, no hysteria, no opinion, just the facts. We tell you what's happening, you, you decide how to think about it. It's named for the brief that lands on the president's desk. And it runs every single day, 20 minutes in the morning, 10 minutes in the afternoon. Smart, fast, honest. Follow the President's Daily Brief on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Time now for the O'Reilly update. Message of the day on this Friday. I'm thinking about the Democratic Party's foolish rhetoric on the economy. Progressive politicians are running around the country screaming affordability, affordability, like Paul Revere. But when you ask them how they would lower prices in America, they don't have a blanking clue, nothing. They don't know how they can't do what they want to do. New York City Mayor ma', am, Donnie is the most effective mouthpiece here because he is promising to freeze rent in New York and give away free food and free other stuff. He's got the power to do that, but on the federal level, you don't. So Mamdani is obviously seeking to circumvent the capitalistic system. That's what communists do. They want the state to take over the means of production. If you want a communist country, you can control prices and wages. Hello, Cuba. But not in a free market economy. Here's the truth. If you have no money in the bank, it's likely your own fault unless you have an infirmity. There are many ways to support yourself in America, many options to make honest money. The primary reason poverty is spreading is that people don't know how to manage their money and they don't know how to live a responsible financial Life. I'm Bill O'Reilly. I approve the message by writing it. You can reach me billoriley.com, [e-mail] name in town. If you wish to opine now, let's go to the mail. David. Bill, your simplistic attitude toward the safety of law enforcement for ICE and other federal officers is surprising. You're always so quick to criticize either Homan, Mark Wayne, Mullen, Cash Patel or whoever. Now, number one, I don't have a simplistic attitude toward any anything. I am thorough, okay?

[Doug]

Thorough.

[Bill O'Reilly]

You cannot impeach what I am telling you. That's number one. Number two, you should be happy that I am scrutinizing those in power. You should be delirious with joy that I do it. And everyone watching should be the same way because no one else does. All have agendas. I have no agenda. So if I criticize anybody, it's because I believe the facts dictate the criticism is necessary. I don't care whether you're Republican or a Democrat or an Independent or anything. I don't care. That is gold in media today. And the reason I get away with this is because I run my companies. Nobody tells me what to do in a moment. Something you might not know. Now the O'Reilly update brings you something you might not know. 587 years ago today, the king of England banned kissing. The drastic measure was designed to slow the spread of a deadly disease known as the Black Death. Here is the story behind the bubonic plague. The virus was first recorded by the ancient Egyptians back in 1000 BC people develop black skin, then legions all over their bodies. The illness killed 40% of its victims within 36 hours of symptoms, mostly from internal bleeding. The malady spread throughout the Roman Empire, ultimately affecting every police on earth except the New World. Here In Australia in 1439, King Henry VI issued a proclamation to stop people from intimate contact. Parliament even passed the legislation to ban knights from kissing on the mouth, a traditional greeting. At the time, the penalty for breaking the law was death. However, there are no records of executions ever being enforced in this dictum. A few centuries later, New York Health Commissioner Royal Copeland had a similar message for folks looking to avoid the Spanish flu. If you must kiss. Kiss via kerchief. Copeland apparently believing kissing through his silk scarf could stop the disease. He was wrong. The Spanish flu went to kill 700,000Americans, including 30,000 New Yorkers. Believe it or not, all the hysteria is actually backed up by science. Health experts say a peck on the lips contains 80 million forms of bacteria, making it one of the most popular ways to to spread disease. And here's something else you might not know. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the longest kiss ever recorded, 58 hours, 35 minutes, 58 seconds. Back in a moment.

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[Bill O'Reilly]

Thank you for listening to the O'Reilly update. I am Bill O'Reilly. No spin, just facts. And always looking out for you.

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