Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis

The O'Reilly Update, November 29, 2025

Overview

This weekend episode of The O’Reilly Update covers a mix of current news events, a historical reflection for Thanksgiving, listener questions, and a brief history lesson on Fidel Castro. Bill O’Reilly and Mike Slater deliver their trademark fact-driven, direct commentary, touching on somber national news, lighter human interest stories, and classic O’Reilly skepticism toward trends like Bitcoin.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Major News Recap

Host: Mike Slater
Timestamps: 00:38 – 03:23

• National Guardswoman Killed in D.C.

  • 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolf, recently sworn in National Guard members, were ambushed in Washington, D.C.
  • The accused, Ramanula Lockenwall, drove from Washington state; described as an Afghan who allegedly uttered "Allahu Akbar" during the attack.
  • Notable Quote (01:03 | Mike Slater):
    “Our attorney general said we will do everything we can to seek the death penalty against that monster.”
  • President labeled the attack an “act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror.”

• Campbell Soup PR Crisis

  • Martin Bailey, VP of Information Security at Campbell Soup, secretly recorded insulting the brand’s food, calling it "s*** food for f***ing poor people."
  • Criticized bioengineered meat, stating, “I don’t want to eat a piece of chicken that came from a 3D printer.”
  • Prompt response and firing by Campbell’s; company reaffirmed its commitment to quality ingredients.

• Heartwarming Thanksgiving Story

  • 75-year-old Guy Miller befriended 27-year-old substitute mailman Jalen Lockhart after a chance incident while walking his dog.
  • Lockhart rescued Miller after a fall—two years later, they are close friends, with Jalen proposing to his girlfriend after Thanksgiving dinner.
  • Notable Quote (02:35 | Mike Slater):
    “Jalen said, ‘I look up to Guy. I see he’s a great husband. He’s been a great dad and a great mentor.’”

• Presidential Thanksgiving Proclamation

  • Honored "the pilgrims who settled our continent and the patriots who won our independence."
  • Ended with, “Above all, we offer our endless gratitude to Almighty God for his love, grace and infinite blessings.”

2. Bill O’Reilly’s Message of the Day: Thanksgiving Reflection

Timestamps: 04:28 – 07:04

• Tone: Wry, historical perspective, motivational
• Compares modern turmoil to the hardships faced by the Puritans in 1622 Massachusetts:
  • “If the Puritans had a crystal ball, they might have insisted the Mayflower turn around and head back to merry old England, which wasn’t very merry at all.”
  • Describes the early colonial experience as filled with “angst and confusion…not a lot of tranquility and understanding.”
  • Hardships included: half the Mayflower passengers dying, food scarcity, no central heating.
  • Acknowledges contemporary economic pressures, but highlights enduring American opportunity:
  • Notable Quote (06:14 | Bill O’Reilly):
    “We are living in a land of opportunity. That’s a cliché, but it’s true. And that is my theme this Thanksgiving week. Yes, things can get a bit crazy, but we will get through it...we certainly have more fun than [the Puritans] did and we don’t have to wear those dopey hats.”

3. Listener Mailbag: O’Reilly Responds

Timestamps: 07:07 – 10:19

• Trump’s Interest in Bitcoin

  • “Bitcoin I know nothing about. I stay away from it. You’re crazy if you get involved with bitcoin.”
  • Suggests Trump’s sons might profit, but reiterates skepticism: “Boy, that’s risky.”

• AI (Artificial Intelligence)

  • “AI, no clue. I know it’s coming. I don’t know how it’s going to affect us.”

• Marjorie Taylor Greene

  • “Disagree with Trump vehemently. And I think she’s going to run for governor now that she’s resigning from the House.”

• On Sanctions and Trump’s Russia Strategy

  • Explains Putin’s assets are not traceable to his name, making it hard to freeze accounts directly.
  • “Putin’s bank accounts aren’t under Putin’s name. It’s not like Vlad has a little Chase card... He’s hiding the money so we can’t go after him, but we can strangle the economy, which is what we’re doing.”

• Republican Legislation and Executive Orders

  • Points out legislative gridlock:
    “You need 60 votes in the Senate to get legislation passed. That’s what the filibuster is all about. It’s hard, but they should at least be putting forth some vision of health care. Kate’s Law, I’m waiting. You know they need to get on it, the Republicans.”

4. Something You Might Not Know: The Life and Legacy of Fidel Castro

Timestamps: 10:55 – 12:14

• Concise history of Fidel Castro, Cuba’s descent from relative prosperity to poverty and repression under his dictatorship.
• Human cost highlighted:
  • “In total, 100,000 human beings died trying to flee Castro’s revolution, most of them drowning at sea.”
  • 10,000 executed by firing squads, 2,000 assassinated in their homes.
• Details ongoing hardships under Cuba’s regime—rationing, government-issued housing, stifled internet access.
• Notable Moment (11:59 | Bill O’Reilly):
  “True, Fidel taught the farmers how to read, but they were only allowed access to one book, the Communist Manifesto.”
• Notes some American admiration, referencing Senator Bernie Sanders’s comment about Castro’s literacy campaigns.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mike Slater (01:03):
  “Our attorney general said we will do everything we can to seek the death penalty against that monster.”
• Bill O’Reilly (06:14):
  “We are living in a land of opportunity. That’s a cliché, but it’s true. And that is my theme this Thanksgiving week.”
• Listener Mailbag – Bitcoin (07:20):
  “Bitcoin I know nothing about. I stay away from it. You’re crazy if you get involved with bitcoin.”
• Fidel Castro History (11:59):
  “True, Fidel taught the farmers how to read, but they were only allowed access to one book, the Communist Manifesto.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• News Recap: 00:38 – 03:23
• Thanksgiving Message: 04:28 – 07:04
• Listener Questions: 07:07 – 10:19
• Fidel Castro Segment: 10:55 – 12:14

Summary

This episode offers a blend of hard news, thoughtful holiday reflection, and historical analysis—all delivered with O’Reilly’s signature no-spin attitude. The episode moves from sobering reports—such as the National Guardswoman tragedy—to lighter stories of kindness, a critical look at food industry PR missteps, and deeper commentary on national resilience in tough times. In classic style, O’Reilly answers listener questions pointedly, admits when he doesn’t know something (“AI, no clue”), and ends with a potent, measured denunciation of Castro’s legacy, noting both the suffering under his regime and Western misconceptions about his accomplishments.

Listeners come away with timely news, a sense of historical perspective for Thanksgiving, and a reminder to maintain humor and skepticism in an uncertain world.