The O'Reilly Update, March 10, 2026

Summary

Podcast Summary: Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis
Episode: The O'Reilly Update, March 10, 2026
Date: March 10, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of "The O'Reilly Update" provides listeners with a rapid-fire briefing on the latest national and international news, focusing on developments in Iran, Venezuela, and ongoing domestic issues such as the partial government shutdown affecting Homeland Security. Bill O'Reilly, along with news anchor Mike Slater, dissect political maneuvers, White House decisions, and notable media events, culminating in O’Reilly’s signature "Message of the Day" and an insightful historical note about the Dixie Chicks controversy. The tone remains direct, analytical, and critical of media bias and political theatre.

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News Highlights with Mike Slater

(00:39 – 03:32)

Key Topics Covered

• Turmoil in Iran

  • Moktaba Khomeini, recently named Iran’s Supreme Leader, has already suffered injury after his father and wife were killed in a Feb. 28 airstrike.
  • U.S. President Trump insists the next Iranian leader should have U.S. approval, stating:
    “We wanna make sure that we don’t have to go back every 10 years when you don’t have a president like me that’s not going to do it.” (01:27, Trump as quoted by Slater)
  • Ongoing instability in Iran's leadership and U.S. involvement.

• Australian Asylum for Iranian Athletes

  • Australia grants asylum to five female Iranian soccer players threatened after refusing to sing the national anthem.
  • Players protected by federal police after fleeing a hotel in Australia.

• US-Venezuela Relations and Gold Shipment

  • U.S. Secretary Doug Burgum confirms $100 million in Venezuelan gold arrived in America for industrial and commercial use.
  • Collaboration with Venezuela now includes oil, gas, and critical minerals.
  • Burgum quote:
    “It started on Friday. In addition to the oil and gas, we signed the first licenses for critical minerals to start flowing and precious minerals. On Friday, there was $100 million of gold that came from Venezuela to the U.S.” (02:36, Burgum as quoted by Slater)

• Partial Government Shutdown

  • Democrats maintain a partial shutdown in protest of ICE operations, affecting TSA and Homeland Security.
  • Reports of thousands of passengers missing flights due to long lines at airports and agents working without pay.

• Memorable Moment:

  • Mike Slater’s candid wrap-up:
    “Democrats are still allowing this partial government shutdown in protest to ICE, even though ICE is barely affected by it.” (03:14)

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O'Reilly's Message of the Day

(03:32 – 06:13)

Focus: Interview with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on 60 Minutes

• Media Criticism vs. Substance:

  • Praises CBS correspondent Major Garrett for a “fact-based and fair” interview without partisan sniping.
  • Notes Hegseth’s clarity but “usual haughty” demeanor.
  • Notable Quote:
    “The overall coverage of the Iranian attack veered into politics almost immediately. No surprise. That’s what the media sells these days: ideology, not information.” (04:55)
  • Points out persistent press efforts to make President Trump look bad.
  • Applauds Major Garrett for conducting an “important throwback interview.”

• On Military Secrecy:

  • Listener claims Iran battle strategy should not be discussed outright.
  • O’Reilly bluntly responds:
    “That’s foolish. And no one knows how long the conflict will last.” (06:13)

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Listener Mail & Quick Takes

(06:28 – 08:33)

Questions and O’Reilly’s Responses:

• Who can transform Iran’s government?

  • O'Reilly:
    “I don’t see it. I don’t know who’s in there. That’s for the CIA…The Ayatollah’s son is there. He’s not going to be there long. They got to get the theocrats out. The civilians run that government.” (06:44)

• Why was Kristi Noem fired?

  • O'Reilly:
    “She made it worse by her rhetoric.” (07:50)

• Is the Democratic Party likely to win midterms despite disarray?

  • O'Reilly:
    “It’s a Trump vote up or down. People aren’t voting for the Democrats, they’re voting for or against Trump.” (07:54)

• Political Loyalty:

  • Listener asserts politicians put party before country. O’Reilly agrees, calling them “craven politicians.” (08:22)

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Something You Might Not Know: The Dixie Chicks Incident

(09:03 – 11:58)

Historical Flashback:

• Dixie Chicks’ 2003 Iraq War Protest

  • 23 years ago, Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks told a London crowd:
    “We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas.” (09:56)
  • Severe backlash at home, boycotts, and dropped airplay.

• President George W. Bush’s Reaction:

  • “The Dixie Chicks are free to speak their mind...Freedom is a two way street.” (10:31)

• Aftermath:

  • Maines issued an apology, citing respect for the office of the president.
  • The group is now known simply as “The Chicks,” dropping “Dixie” in 2020 amid the George Floyd protests.

• Memorable O’Reilly zinger:

  • “Politically correct to the end, right, Chicks?” (11:43)

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Notable Quotes

• Bill O’Reilly on media coverage:
  “The overall coverage of the Iranian attack veered into politics almost immediately. No surprise. That’s what the media sells these days: ideology, not information.” (04:55)

• Mike Slater on government shutdown:
  “Democrats are still allowing this partial government shutdown in protest to ICE, even though ICE is barely affected by it.” (03:14)

• President Trump (via Slater):
  “We wanna make sure that we don’t have to go back every 10 years when you don’t have a president like me that’s not going to do it.” (01:27)

• Bill O’Reilly on politicians:
  “A lot of craven...craven politician, no doubt.” (08:22)

• George W. Bush on Dixie Chicks incident:
  “Freedom is a two way street.” (10:31)

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Episode Flow & Tone

• The episode is tightly structured, moving briskly from headline news to O’Reilly’s analysis and listener mail, before wrapping up with a relevant piece of cultural history.
• O’Reilly’s style is characteristically blunt, skeptical of both media and political narratives, and unafraid to inject pointed humor.
• The segments offer a blend of breaking news, pointed analysis, and historical reflection—always with an emphasis on skepticism and “no spin.”

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For more analysis and O’Reilly’s perspectives, visit BillOReilly.com.

Transcript

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[Bill O'Reilly]

golf.com 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 Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Here's what's happening today in America. Already injured, Australian asylum, $100 million in gold and long lines at TSA. That's all coming up. And Bill's going to be here with your message of the day. But first, that did not take long. Moktaba Khomeini has risen to the position of Iran's supreme leader. He was named the new leader on March 8th. So that was Sunday, and he's already been injured. His dad and wife were killed. On the Feb. 28 airstrike, the leader of Iran, this leader was not approved by President Trump. Trump told ABC News that the next person to get the role would have to get approval from the United States, adding that without approval, he's not gonna last long. Trump said, we wanna make sure that we don't have to go back every 10 years when you don't have a president like me, that's not going to do it. President Trump encouraged Australia to grant asylum to Iranian soccer players. They have done that to five female Iranian soccer players so far who faced threats for refusing to sing the Islamist regime's national anthem during a soccer match last week in Australia. Australian police helped five players leave their hotel early yesterday morning to a safe house protected by the Australian Federal Police. Our US Secretary, Doug Burgum, confirmed that $100 million in gold was shipped from Venezuela and arrived in America. On Friday, Burgum met with the acting president of Venezuela, who our president has given his approval to. Burgum highlighted that this new collaboration now extends to critical minerals in addition to oil and gas, pointing out that Venezuela has $500 billion worth of gold resources in addition to other critical minerals such as bauxite, aluminum and coal. Burgum said, well, it started on Friday. In addition to the oil and gas, we signed the first licenses for critical minerals to start flowing and precious minerals. On Friday, there was $100 million of gold that came from Venezuela to the U.S. that's for both industrial purposes as well as other commercial uses. Burgum later said the enthusiasm is high on the ground level in Venezuela for what their future can be. And again, fun to be bringing home the gold for America on Friday from Venezuela. The partnership is very strong there with Delsey Rodriguez and the leadership in Venezuela. Democrats are still allowing this partial government shutdown in protest to ice, even though ICE is barely affected by it. It is affecting TSA Homeland Security. Pointing out that many Americans are missing their flights because of the Democrat shutdown of DHS. They posted a video of New Orleans airport, 2,000 people in line. The line went into the parking garage. Agents are showing up. They're not getting paid. They'll get back pay when the shutdown ends though. I'm Mike Slater from the podcast Politics by faith. Bill O'Reilly has your message of the day next.

[Bill O'Reilly]

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[Caller/Listener]

As for Iran battle strategy should not be discussed.

[Bill O'Reilly]

That's foolish. And no one knows how long the conflict will last. I'm Bill O'Reilly. I approve the message by writing it. You can reach me billor.com, billoriley.com, name

[Caller/Listener]

in town if you wish to opine. I was going to the mail. Bill Phillips, Milford, Connecticut.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Hey, Bill, it seems military phase.

[Caller/Listener]

The operation is going well. Objective seems to be within reach. Concerns me is the lack of powerful opposition leader capable of transforming the government of Iran. How do you see it? I don't see it. I don't know who's in there. That's for the CIA to you know and they're not going to tell me. So the ayatollah's son is there. He's not going to be there long. They got to get the theocrates out. The civilians run that government. Vicki is a concierge member on the message board. I reread chapter 10 of Confronting Evil about the Ayatollah Khomeini. Highly recommend because all Americans need to know about Persian Iranian history.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Look, it's I got Putin on the

[Caller/Listener]

COVID I got the ayatollah on the COVID I mean this is very relevant to today. Jesse James, Venice, Florida. Okay, Bill, can you share any info on the real reason Kristi Noem was fired? It's obvious, Jesse. She made a bad situation worse in Minnesota. That's why whenever you have violence that includes federal agents and tamp it down, she didn't do it.

[Bill O'Reilly]

She made it worse by her rhetoric.

[Caller/Listener]

Out. Joey Avalone, Arizona, the Democratic Party is in such disarray. Why are so many people predicting they're going to win the midterms? It's a Trump vote vote up or down. People aren't voting for the Democrats. They're voting for or against Trump. Joey, very important you know that. John Rounds, Prineville, Oregon. It's clear to me our politicians loyalties lie with the party first, country second, constituencies and third. I'm not going to argue with that. A lot of craven word of the day, craven politician, no doubt in a

[Bill O'Reilly]

moment, something you might not know.

[Caitlin Becker]

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[Bill O'Reilly]

Now the O'Reilly update brings you something you might not know. 23 years ago today, one of America's most popular bands alienated half of the country while touring England. Their comments enraged millions back home as a country prepared for war in Iraq. Here is the story behind the Dixie Chicks. The group featuring three female country musicians formed in Dallas, 1989. They had a series of hits during the 90s, quickly became one of America's most successful acts. On March 10, 2003, lead singer Natalie Maines addressed a sold out crowd in London. The performance took place nine days before the invasion of Iraq. Said Maine's quote, just so you know, we're on the good side with y'. All. We do not want this war, this violence, and we're ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas, unquote. Well, the backlash was immediate and severe. Many radio stations wouldn't play the Chicks songs any longer and callers phoned in demanding a boycott. President George Bush the Younger said this.

[George W. Bush]

I mean, the Dixie Chicks are free to speak their mind. They can say what they want to say. And just because they shouldn't have their feelings hurt is because some people don't want to buy their records when they speak out. I mean, you know, Freedom is a two way street.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Four days later, Ms. Maines issued an apology. Quote, as a concerned American citizen, I apologize to President Bush because my remark was disrespectful. I feel that whoever holds that office should be treated with the utmost respect, unquote. And here's something else you might not know. The Dixie Chicks are now known simply as the Chicks. The women dropped the word Dixie during the George Floyd protests in 2020 because of its alleged ties to slavery. Politically correct to the end, right, chicks? Back in a moment. Thank you for listening to the O'Reilly update. I am Bill O'Reilly. For more news and honest analysis, please go to billoreilly.com no spin, just facts. And always looking out for you.

[Caitlin Becker]

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