The O'Reilly Update, March 3, 2026

Summary

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The O’Reilly Update — March 3, 2026: Summary & Key Insights

Overview

In this episode of The O'Reilly Update (March 3, 2026), host Bill O’Reilly and news correspondent Mike Slater cover major breaking news including a joint U.S.-Israel military operation in Iran, a terrorist attack in Austin, and Bill’s analysis on the rising problem of tribalism in American society. The episode also features O’Reilly’s responses to listener mail and a “Something You Might Not Know” historical segment on Sam Houston.

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Major News Highlights

1. Operation Epic Fury: U.S. and Israel Strike Iran

[00:39–03:20]

• Details:

  • On Saturday, the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated attacks on several sites in Iran.
  • Operation named “Roaring Lion” by Israel and “Operation Epic Fury” by the U.S.
  • At least 48 Iranian leaders were killed, described as including “the very top.”
  • The mission’s objectives, as laid out by President Trump:
    • Destroy Iran's missile/military capabilities.
    • Prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear arms.
    • Ultimately topple the Iranian regime.

• Presidential Statements:

  • Trump instructed Iranian military and police to “lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or…face certain death.”
  • Message to Iranian citizens: “The hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered... When we're finished, take over your government… This will be probably your only chance for generations. ... Now you have a president who is giving you what you want. So let's see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny...” (Mike Slater relaying Trump’s speech, [01:23–02:14])

• Operational Updates:

  • U.S. has sunk nine Iranian naval ships; more targeted.
  • Iranian naval headquarters largely destroyed.
  • American casualties: Three killed, five seriously wounded (details withheld pending family notification).

• Media Response:

  • The Washington Post obituary for Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini highlighted personal qualities, prompting sarcastic commentary from Slater: “Oh, how sweet.” ([02:43])

2. Terrorist Attack in Austin

[03:00]

• A mass shooting occurred, killing two and injuring 14.
• The perpetrator wore a “Property of Allah” t-shirt.
• He immigrated from Senegal, arrived on a tourist visa in 2000, became a U.S. citizen in 2013.
• Police killed the attacker on the scene.

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Bill O’Reilly's Message of the Day: The Danger of Tribalism

[04:05–06:00]

• Main Concern:

  • “I am worried about something going on in America. I want to share it with you. It’s called tribalism.” ([04:05])

• Key Points:

  • Tribalism (persistent, divisive group loyalties) has ruined countries—O’Reilly cites Africa.
  • Now, “tribalism has come to America. We're living in an age of political hatred and Donald Trump is the centerpiece... Barack Obama, Joe Biden, they got their share of hate. So did Bush the Younger.” ([04:46])
  • Media is intensifying the problem:
    • “The media spurs tribalism because they make money off it.”
    • “CNN and MSNBC cater to the hate-Trump people. Fox loves Trump. All three are marketing love and hate... and tribalism is taking root in America. It is not good.” ([05:10])
  • O’Reilly’s Call-to-Action:
    • “Each person, each issue should stand on its own with independent thought. And I’d like you to think about that.” ([05:28])

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Listener Mail & Responses

[06:01–08:15]

• On ICE Operations in Cities:

  • Some cities like New Orleans and Memphis do not protest ICE actions, while “far left places” do.
    • “In New Orleans and Memphis... no resistance. It is the far left places that provide all the protest.” ([06:37])

• On Drug Prices:

  • Despite efforts to reduce Caribbean drug supplies, street prices remain cheap due to Mexican supply.
  • O’Reilly hopes Trump will act:
    • “Mexico just pumps them in here. And I hope President Trump does something about that.” ([07:00])

• On Wall Street Journal’s Editorial Stance:

  • Reader claims WSJ is critical of Trump.
  • O'Reilly: They dislike his tariffs and demeanor but are not an anti-Trump outfit overall. ([07:22])

• On Audio Books:

  • A listener enjoyed Bill’s “Killing Crazy Horse” on audio during a road trip.
  • O’Reilly recommends his audiobooks for long drives or traffic:
    • “Pop the audio in. That'll entertain you and you’ll learn stuff...” ([07:52])

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“Something You Might Not Know”: Sam Houston

[08:16–10:00]

• Biography Highlights:

  • Born March 2, 1793, in Virginia; moved to Tennessee as a child.
  • Lived with Cherokee as a teen; served in War of 1812.
  • Emigrated to Texas (then a Mexican province) in 1832.
  • Became commander in chief of Texas forces in the fight for independence.
  • Major setback at the Alamo but redeemed by leading a surprise victory over Mexican forces in the Battle of San Jacinto (April 21, 1836):
    • “Even though they were outnumbered five to one, Houston defeated the enemy in just 18 minutes.” ([09:20])
  • First President of the Republic of Texas; saw Texas annexed as the 28th U.S. state.

• Civil War Stance:

  • Opposed Southern secession; refused to swear allegiance to the Confederacy—removed from office.
  • Died during the Civil War in 1863 at age 70.

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Notable Quotes

• On Iran:

  • “Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we’re finished, take over your government.”
    —Pres. Trump via Mike Slater, [01:53]
  • “America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny...”
    —Pres. Trump via Mike Slater, [02:10]

• On Media and Tribalism:

  • “The media spurs tribalism because they make money off it... and tribalism is taking root in America. It is not good.”
    —Bill O’Reilly, [05:10]
  • “Each person, each issue should stand on its own with independent thought.”
    —Bill O’Reilly, [05:28]

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Overall Tone & Style

The episode delivers urgent updates in a straightforward, sometimes blunt manner. O’Reilly’s commentary is reflective and cautionary, expressing deep concern about America’s societal divides. The reportage is no-nonsense, though Mike Slater injects flashes of irony. The historic segment on Sam Houston is informative yet accessible, ending the show on a thought-provoking note.

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Note: This summary covers all main content topics, omitting ads and filler segments for clarity and conciseness.

Transcript

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[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 Monday, March 2, 2026. Here's what's happening today in America. Operation Epic Fury and terrorist attack in Austin. It's all coming up. The bill's gonna be here with your message of the day. But first, on Saturday, Israel and the United States launched a joint attack on multiple sites in Iran. The operation, codenamed Roaring lion by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the United States, killed at least 48 leaders in Iran, including the very top. The supreme Leader Trump declared the objective of the operation is to destroy Iran's missile and military capabilities, prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and ultimately topple the regime. The president told the people of Iran, first, to the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity or in the alternative, face certain death. So lay down your arms. You'll be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death. Finally, to the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don't leave your home. It's very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we're finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations. For many years, you've asked for America's help, but you never got it. No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want. So let's see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action to be. Do not let it pass. The president said he plans on communicating with the remnants of the Iranian regime. He said they want to talk and I've agreed to talk so I'll be talking to them. They should have done it sooner. They should have given what was very practical and easy to do sooner. They waited too long. The president also wrote on Truth Social American forces have destroyed and sunk nine Iranian naval ships, some of which were large and important. We're going after the rest. They will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea. Also, in a different attack, we largely destroyed their naval headquarters. Other than that, their navy is doing very well. Three U.S. service members have been killed in action so far, five seriously wounded. CENTCOM has given very few details until families have been notified. The Washington Post ran an obituary for the ayatollah. They said, with his bushy white beard and easy smile, Ayatollah Khomeini cut a more avuncular figure in public than his perpetually scowling but much more revered mentor. And he was known to be fond of Persian poetry and classic Western novels. Oh, how sweet. In other news, a terrorist killed two people in Austin, injured 14 more in a mass shooting. Police killed the man. He was wearing a T shirt that said Property of Allah. He came here on a tourist visa in 2000 and became a US citizen in 2013. He's originally from Senegal. I'm Mike Slater from the podcast Politics by Faith. Please pray for our service members. Bill O'Reilly has your message of the day next. Reggie, I just sold my car online.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Let's go, Grandpa.

[Mike Slater]

Wait, you did?

[Bill O'Reilly]

Yep.

[Mike Slater]

On Carvana.

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[Mike Slater]

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[Bill O'Reilly]

You don't say.

[Mike Slater]

Yeah, they're even picking it up tomorrow. Talk about fast.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Wow. Way to go.

[Mike Slater]

So about that picture frame.

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[Mike Slater]

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[Mike Slater]

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[Bill O'Reilly]

Time now for the O'Reilly update. Message of the day on this Monday. I am worried about something going on in America. I want to share it with you. It's called tribalism. So if you look at the world map, there are many places where tribalism has ruined entire countries. Africa is the best example. Very difficult for people to get organized over there and develop efficient governments when everybody is fighting among themselves and there is no hope of detente that goes on in Africa every day in many, many countries. Well, tribalism has come to America. So we're living in an age of political hatred and Donald Trump is the centerpiece of that right now. But let's face it, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, they got their share of hate. So did Bush the Younger. Now, however, reasonable conversations are declining because of the media. The media spurs tribalism because they make money off of it. All you got to do is look at the cable TV industry. Two of them, CNN and msnbc, cater to the hate Trump people. One of them, Fox, loves Trump. All three are marketing love and hate that divides people. And tribalism is taking root in America. It is not good. Each person, each issue should stand on its own with independent thought. And I'd like you to think about that. I'm Bill O'Reilly. I approve the message by writing it. You can reach me billorilly.com, billoriley.com, name in town. If you wish to opine now, let's go to the mail. Steve Lincoln, Palm Coast, Florida. Secretary Jeh Johnson was excellent on the no spin news. What was not mentioned was that ice in the vast number of cities has no issue. Very good point. So in New Orleans and Memphis, when the ice people go in to round up the criminals and people who didn't show up for their hearings, no resistance. It is the far left places that provide all the protest. Chuck Lamb, Falmouth, Maine, with all the action in the Caribbean, with the USA reducing the supply of drugs, has anyone analyzed the price of drugs on the street? I have. It's the same cheap. Why? Because Mexico, Mexico just pumps them in here. And I hope President Trump does something about that. Pete Aker, Durham, North Carolina. I used to think Wall Street Journal is friendly to President Trump, but they demean him and spend his accomplishment negative ways. I think they give him. They don't like the tariffs. Wall Street Journal don't like his demeanor. Both of those things are true. But there's enough pro Trump stuff that it isn't a Trump hate outfit, the Wall Street Journal, but they have their, you know, spots. They don't want tariffs, that's for sure. Daniel Jean, Jill out. Gene Jealous, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, eight just finished killing Queen Crazy Horse. I took your advice, Bill, and listened to it in a car during long drive. Thank you for the tip. All of my books are available on audio. If you got a trip, if you got to go somewhere or you're stuck in traffic like here in New York or in LA or in Chicago, pop the audio in. That'll entertain you and you'll learn stuff. Just sit there in a traffic. My God. In a moment, something you might not know. Now the O'Reilly update brings you something you might not know. 233 years ago today, one of the most famous Texans to ever live, was born in rural Virginia. His name will forever be associated with the Lone Star State and its largest city. Here is the story of Sam Houston. Born March 2, 1793, 13 year old Samuel moved to Tennessee with his mother and eight siblings. After the death of his father, he ran away from home in 1809, spent three years living among the Cherokee Indians. Hewson then joined the US army to fight against Britain in the War of 1812, serving under General Andrew Jackson. Houston then moved to Texas. It was a province of Mexico in 1832 when he got there. Four years later, the territory declared its independence. Sam Houston, known for his bravery and tactical skills, was named commander in chief. He faced major setbacks, including a catastrophic defeat at the Alamo, an old Spanish fort in San Antonio. But the Texas army regrouped. On April 21, 1836. General Houston led 800 soldiers in a surprise attack on Mexican forces. Even though they were outnumbered five to one, Houston defeated the enemy in just 18 minutes. The Mexicans surrendered. After the war, Houston was elected the first president President of the Republic of Texas. But independence did not last long. Nine years later, the territory was incorporated into the USA as the 28th state. And here's something else you might not know. Sam Houston despised the concept of Southern secession. While serving as a governor of Texas, he publicly opposed the Civil War. He refused to take an oath of allegiance to the Confederacy and because of that, was removed from office. Houston then moved to a small town in central Texas where he died from pneumonia in 1863. During the war, he was 70 years old. Back in a moment. Thank you for listening to the O'Reilly update. I am Bill O'Reilly. No spin, just facts. And always looking out for you.