The O'Reilly Update, May 16, 2025

Summary

Summary of "The O'Reilly Update, May 16, 2025"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis
• Host/Author: Bill O'Reilly
• Description: No Spin. Just Facts. Always looking out for you. Head to BillOReilly.com for more analysis.
• Episode: The O'Reilly Update, May 16, 2025
• Release Date: May 16, 2025

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1. News Highlights with Mike Slater

James Comey's Controversial Instagram Post

• Timestamp: [00:40]
• Details: Former FBI Director James Comey posted a photograph on Instagram featuring seashells arranged in the numbers "8647." Initially captioned as "cool shell formation on my beach walk," Comey later removed the post, stating, "I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn't realize that some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me. But I oppose violence of any kind. So I took the post down."
• Implications: The numbers "86" slang for "get rid of," and "47" references Donald Trump as the 47th President. This led to significant backlash and accusations.

Responses from Officials

• Homeland Security: Kristi Noem condemned Comey's actions, stating, "Disgrace. Former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of President Trump. DHS and Secret Service are investigating this threat and will respond appropriately."
• National Intelligence: Tulsi Gabbard expressed strong condemnation, saying, "I do [think Comey should be in jail]. I'm very concerned for Trump's life. And James Comey, in my view, should be held accountable and put behind bars for this."

Donald Trump's Diplomatic Success in the Middle East

• Timestamp: [02:15]
• Details: President Donald Trump concluded a highly successful trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE leader bestowed Trump with his country's highest civilian honor.
• Economic Commitments: The UAE pledged a monumental investment of $1.4 trillion into the U.S. economy over the next decade, targeting sectors such as AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, and American manufacturing. Notably, there is a plan to nearly double American aluminum production by funding a new smelter.

Supreme Court Deliberates on Birthright Citizenship

• Timestamp: [04:00]
• Details: For the first time in 35 years, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments concerning birthright citizenship. The debate centers around the interpretation of the 14th Amendment:
  • Government's Position: Argues that the amendment was intended for children of newly freed slaves, not for children born to illegal immigrants from countries like Honduras.
  • Statistics: Approximately 300,000 “anchor babies” are born in the U.S. each year, constituting around 8% of all births.
• Legal Focus: The case also examines the scope of district judges' authority to issue nationwide injunctions, raising questions about judicial overreach.

Technical Glitches in U.S. Airports

• Timestamp: [06:00]
• Details: A significant technical malfunction at Denver Airport disrupted communication between air traffic controllers and 20 incoming pilots for six minutes. Additionally, the FAA reported that the hotline between Reagan National Airport and the Pentagon has been non-operational since March 2022.
• Commentary: Bill O'Reilly sarcastically questions the accountability of judicial oversight during such critical failures, remarking, "Where was Buddha judge during all that?"

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2. Message of the Day by Bill O'Reilly

Honoring Vietnam Veterans on Memorial Day

• Timestamp: [04:06]
• Content: Bill O'Reilly emphasizes the importance of recognizing and honoring Vietnam veterans during the upcoming Memorial Day. He reflects on the valor of young American men who fought against a communist regime in Southeast Asia, drawing parallels to the Korean War where U.S. forces successfully prevented North Korean aggression.
• Historical Perspective: O'Reilly critiques President Lyndon Johnson's leadership during the Vietnam War, labeling him as "deceitful and incompetent," which he believes contributed to the war's unfavorable outcome. He underscores the enduring lack of freedom in Vietnam as a result of the conflict and the noble intentions behind U.S. involvement.
• Quote: "Our presence in Vietnam was noble, even if the ultimate result failed. And so this coming Memorial Day, the Vietnam vets should be honored by us all. It is the right thing to do after 50 years." [04:06]

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3. Listener Mail and Bill’s Responses

Mail from John Plum, East Northport, New York

• Timestamp: [05:53]
• Content: John expresses concerns about a plane gift from Qatar intended for President Trump, mistakenly attributing it to Saudi Arabia.
• Bill’s Response: Clarifies the misunderstanding, stating, "I don't think that Donald Trump should take a gift from Qatar. Take a loan. Just have a loan you're playing. And then when you're out of office, you get back what I would do."

Mail from John Botcher, Dayton, Ohio

• Timestamp: [06:05]
• Content: John discusses the misconception of the U.S. being the richest country, highlighting the national debt of $37 trillion and its per capita implications.
• Bill’s Response: Differentiates between national debt and individual financial status, explaining, "The country owes $37 trillion, not you and me. Yeah, we're part of the country, but that debt's not on our resume. What you have in the bank, in your assets, that's what is the richest country in the world."

Mail from Melanie

• Timestamp: [06:54]
• Content: Melanie critiques the overuse of the phrase "tax cuts for the rich," suggesting it has lost its impact.
• Bill’s Response: Reflects on societal shifts since the 1950s and 60s, noting, "And Melanie, a lot of people don't know anything. You George, When I was young in the 50s and 60s, almost everyone was focused on self help, self sufficiency. It was an embarrassment not to be able to take care of yourself. But now things have changed. Since LBJ's Great Society, charitable help has been devolved from being appreciated to being expected and demanded. That is a very good analysis from George. It used to be."

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4. O’Reilly Update: American and Global Diets

Average American Consumption

• Timestamp: [07:38]
• Details: The typical American consumes approximately 3,000 calories daily. Popular meals, as reported by Grubhub, include pizza, pasta, tacos, and hamburgers. A standard family of four spends about $100 weekly on groceries, primarily on breakfast and dinner.

Global Dietary Comparisons

• Russia: Breakfasts feature pickled eggs and porridge, with lightweight lunches and dinners comprising beet soup, roasted meat, vegetables, and vodka.
• Japan: Emphasizes fish, starting the day with steamed mackerel, enjoying seafood broth at lunch, and tuna with horseradish for dinner.
• China: Begins mornings with congee, a traditional rice gruel, and dinners include roast pork with steamed vegetables.
• India: Rich in spices, meals typically include stewed proteins, flatbreads, and an array of herbs like curry, turmeric, coriander, and cinnamon. Dishes often feature extremely hot peppers, such as Ghost Chili, which is 200 times spicier than a jalapeño.
• South Africa: Offers a diverse cuisine influenced by England, Africa, Holland, Belgium, and France. Breakfasts usually consist of bread, coffee, and pastries, while dinners highlight the traditional braai—barbecued pork, lamb, and beef slow-cooked over open flames.
• United Kingdom: Notably includes black pudding in breakfasts—a circular sausage made from kidneys, barley, intestines, fat, and pig's blood.

Notable Insight: "One of the strangest breakfast items in the world can be found in the UK. Folks in England, Ireland, Scotland enjoy black pudding... Somebody please pass the pancakes back after this." [07:38]

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Conclusion

"The O'Reilly Update, May 16, 2025," delivered by Bill O’Reilly and Mike Slater, covered a range of pressing national and international issues. From the controversial actions of former FBI Director James Comey and the robust economic partnerships formed in the Middle East by President Trump, to pivotal Supreme Court deliberations on birthright citizenship and technical challenges within U.S. aviation infrastructure, the episode provided comprehensive analysis and commentary. Additionally, Bill O’Reilly took time to honor Vietnam veterans, engage with listener feedback, and explore cultural insights into global dietary habits, ensuring a well-rounded and informative session for listeners seeking no-nonsense news and analysis.

Transcript

[Bill O'Reilly]

At New Balance, we believe if you run, you're a runner, however you choose to do it. Because when you're not worried about doing things the right way, you're free to discover your way. And that's what running's all about. Run your [e-mail] Running Bill O'Reilly, here.

[Mike Slater]

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

Thank you, Bill. It is Friday, May 16, 2025. Here's what's happening today in America. 86, 47 Trump in UAE anchor babies in the Supreme Court and ATC down in Denver. It's all coming up. And Bill's gonna be here with your message of the day. The head, the former head of the FBI, James Comey, posted a picture on Instagram that he saw of of some seashells on the beach in the shape of 8647. He captioned it cool shell formation on my beach walk. 86 is slang for to get rid of 47. 47th President, United States he later took down the post and said, I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn't realize that some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me. But I oppose violence of any kind. So I took the post down. The head of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem said, disgrace. Former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of President Trump. DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately. The director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard was asked if Comey should be in jail, and she said, I do. I'm very concerned for Trump's life. And James Comey, in my view, should be held accountable and put behind bars for this. This come after Donald Trump wrapped up by every account, a very successful trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar wrapping up with United Arab Emirates. The leader of UAE gifted President Trump his country's highest civilian honor. The country also pledged $1.4 trillion of investment in the U.S. economy over the next decade through AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy and American manufacturing initiatives, including a plan to nearly double American aluminum production by investing in a new smelter. For the first time in 35 years, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments related to birthright citizenship. It's believed that there are 300,000 anchor babies every year born in America. It's around 8% of all births in this country. The government is arguing that the the framers of the 14th Amendment were talking about the children of newly freed slaves, not illegal aliens from Honduras. To me, it seems like an obvious case, but this argument, this case yesterday was really about the ability of district judges to issue nationwide injunctions. So we'll see how narrowly the court decides. It's not just Newark Airport anymore. There was a technical glitch at Denver Airport left air traffic controllers unable to talk to pilots for six minutes. 20 pilots were en route to Denver when they found that they could not contact air traffic control. We also learned yesterday from the FAA that the hotline between Reagan National Airport and the Pentagon has been down since March 2022. Where was Buddha judge during all that? I'm Mike Slater. I host a podcast called Politics by Faith. The great Bill O'Reilly. He has your message of the day next.

[Discover Card]

Are you still quoting 30 year old movies? Have you said cool beans in the past 90 days? Do you think Discover isn't widely accepted? If this sounds like you, you're stuck in the past. Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. And every time you make a purchase with your card, you automatically earn cash back. Welcome to the now it pays to Discover. Learn [e-mail] credit card based on the February 2024 Nielsen report.

[Mike Slater]

Time now for the O'Reilly update. Message of the day on this Friday.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Recently, I discussed giving Vietnam vets in America a special proclamation this coming Memorial Day. I talked it over with the president of the United States himself briefly. I hope that comes to pass. Young American men fought bravely in Southeast Asia against a communist army that was intent in subjugating their countrymen. The war was similar to Korea, where US Forces prevented the communist North Koreans from taking over the South. Today, North Korea is a frightening totalitarian state, while South Korea is a prosperous democracy. Brave Americans did that in Vietnam. The situation turned out differently, largely because of President Lyndon Johnson, a deceitful and incompetent commander in chief. In the end, the Communist north violated the peace treaty engineered by President Nixon, and American blood could not prevent the political catastrophe. No freedom in Vietnam to this day, but hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops tried to prevent totalitarianism at great sacrifice, and they should be remembered and honored. Our presence in Vietnam was noble, even if the ultimate result failed. And so this coming Memorial Day, the Vietnam vets should be honored by us all. It is the right thing to do after 50 years.

[Mike Slater]

I'm Bill O'Reilly. I approve the message by writing it. You can reach me billorilly.com, billorilly.com, name in town if you wish to opine.

[Bill O'Reilly]

All right, let's go to the mail. John Plum, East Northport, New York, on Long Island. I have mixed feelings about the plane gift the Saudis want to give to Trump. Number one, it's Qatar, not Saudi Arabia.

[Mike Slater]

What are your thoughts on this?

[Bill O'Reilly]

Now I've done this. I know you can't watch all. I know you can't watch every show. But if you're a concierge member, you get a transcript of all the shows free of charge. I don't think that Donald Trump should take a gift from Qatar. Take a loan. Just have a loan you're playing. And then when you're out of office, you get back what I would do. John Botcher, Dayton, Ohio. Bill, I hear it said all the time, us the richest country in the world. That can be true if we owe 37 trillion because it's per capita income. Jim, the country owes $37 trillion, not you and me. Yeah, we're part of the country, but that debt's not on our resume. What you have in the bank, in your assets, that's what is the richest country in the world.

[Mike Slater]

US Citizens have more assets than anybody else.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Melanie, Tax cuts for the rich phrase we have heard for 30 years. That's all Democrats have. It's old and worn out. It's all been worn out unless you don't know anything. And Melanie, a lot of people don't know anything. You George, When I was young in the 50s and 60s, almost everyone was focused on self help, self sufficiency. It was an embarrassment not to be able to take care of yourself. But now things have changed. Since LBJ's Great Society, charitable help has been devolved from being appreciated to being expected and demanded. That is a very good analysis from George. It used to be.

[Mike Slater]

Thank you.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Thanks for saving my family with the safety net. Thank you, my neighbors, for your tax dollars. Big change. That's what happens in a welfare state.

[Mike Slater]

In a moment, something you might not.

[NC Bank]

Know, she's made up her mind to live pretty smart, learn to budget responsibly right from the start. She spends a little less in boots, more into savings keeps the blood pressure low when credit score raises, she's cutting debt right out of her life. She tracks her cash for on her spreadsheet at night.

[Discover Card]

Boring money moves make kind of lame songs but they sound pretty sweet to your wallet. The NC bank, brilliantly boring since 1865.

[Mike Slater]

Now the O'Reilly Update brings you something you might not know. The average American consumes 3,000 calories every day. Most popular meals according to Grubhub. Pizza, pasta, tacos, hamburgers. The typical family of four spends about $100 each week on groceries, mostly on breakfast and dinner. Around the world, a person's diet varies from country to country. Here are a few examples. In Russia, when you wake up, the day begins with pickled eggs and porridge. Many folks in Moscow enjoy a light lunch. Dinner features beet soup, roasted meat, vegetables, vodka, of course. For the Japanese, it's about fish. Day begins with steamed mackerel. A seafood broth is served for lunch. At dinner, folks in the land of the rising sun eat tuna with horseradish. Chinese start the morning with congee, a traditional gruel made from overcooked rice. In the evening, residents there enjoy roast pork with steamed vegetables. In India, it's about spice. Typical meal consists of stewed protein, flatbread and more than 25 herbs, including curry, turmeric, coriander, cinnamon. Folks in Mumbai also enjoy the heat. The Indians cook with the hottest peppers in the world. Some dishes feature Ghost Chili. It's 200 times spicier than the jalapeno. To South Africa, where the country boasts cuisines from England, Africa, Holland, Belgium, France. Typical breakfast includes bread, coffee, pastries. For dinner, it's all about the braai, the traditional barbecue consisting of pork, lamb, beef slow cooked over an open flame. And here's something else you might not know even if you're hungry. One of the strangest breakfast items in the world can be found in the UK Folks in England, Ireland, Scotland enjoy black pudding. The circular sausage is made from kidneys, barley, intestines, fat and that special ingredient, pig's blood. Whoa. Somebody please pass the pancakes back after this.

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[Mike Slater]

Thank you for listening to the O'Reilly Update. I am Bill O'Reilly. The no Spin, just facts and always looking out for you.