Episode Overview

Podcast: Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis
Episode: The O'Reilly Update, November 5, 2025
Host: Bill O'Reilly
Date: November 5, 2025

Main Theme:
This episode focuses on the political and social developments in the United States, including major election results, ongoing government shutdown ramifications, high-profile arrests, Supreme Court cases, and a historical reflection on FDR’s presidency. Bill O’Reilly provides his analysis and signature “message of the day,” emphasizing the deeper stories behind headline news, particularly in regard to healthcare and government dysfunction.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Election Results Recap [00:09 – 01:18]

• Democrats Sweep Major Races:

  • Abigail Spanberger (D) elected as Virginia’s Governor, keeping with the tradition of the governorship flipping from the party of the sitting President.
  • Democrat wins in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race.
  • Pennsylvania voters overwhelmingly voted to retain three Supreme Court justices.

• Voter Concerns:

  • Taxes and the economy are the dominant issues, especially in New Jersey.
  • Contrasting attitudes: “People in New York City want to raise taxes on the rich.” — Mike Slater [00:44]

• 2026 Midterms Begin:
  “Either way, the 2026 midterms start today.” — Mike Slater [00:47]

2. Airspace and Transportation Crisis [01:18 – 02:10]

• UPS Cargo Plane Crash:

  • Fatal crash in Louisville, KY: at least three dead, 11 injured.

• Government Shutdown Impact:

  • Potential closure of certain airspace if the shutdown extends.
  • Nearly 50% of air traffic control facilities have staffing shortages.
  • 13,000 air traffic controllers working without pay; in New York, 80% of staff called out on Friday.

  “These hard working Americans have to pay bills and they have to make tough choices. Do they go to work as an air traffic controller or, or do they go find a different job…?” — Mike Slater [01:52]

3. Harvard Medical School Bomb Arrests [02:10 – 02:28]

• Details:

  • Two suspects, aged 18 and 20, arrested by the FBI.
  • Investigators describe the act as “elaborate and extremely dangerous.”

  “This is not some harmless college prank. There could have been casualties if there were people in the building at the time.” — FBI Boston special agent (as relayed by Mike Slater) [02:20]

4. Supreme Court and Tariffs [02:28 – 03:03]

• Case:

  • Dispute over Trump’s tariffs and the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
  • President possibly attending oral arguments — unprecedented.
  • Treasury Secretary Scott Besant to appear, arguing tariffs were crucial for leverage against China on fentanyl.

  “If fentanyl is not a national emergency, what is?” — Scott Besant, via Mike Slater [02:57]

5. Bill O’Reilly: Message of the Day [03:57 – 07:56]

Government Shutdown and Obamacare

• Partisan Stalemate:

  • Both parties blamed for halting government funding.
  • Central dispute over increase in Obamacare spending.
  • Democrats want a “massive uptick”; Republicans believe expenses are already “insane.”

• Healthcare Consequences:

  • O’Reilly predicts expansion of government healthcare would push many doctors into private, concierge medicine:
    “Thus the wealthy will get top shelf care while everyone else will have to settle. That's what happened in Great Britain.” [04:36]
  • Argues the government cannot compel doctors' workplace choices.

• Comparative Analysis:

  • Draws parallel to Great Britain’s system and potential class divide in healthcare.

• Listener Mailbag: (select highlights)

  • Critique of CBS’s 60 Minutes interview with President Trump:
    “The main takeaway for me was the hostility and complete lack of any sense of humor from Nora o' Donnell.” — Listener, Arthur [05:20]
  • Debate over the appropriateness of using “Mr. Trump” vs. “President Trump”:
    “No, you can't just say president, president, president, president. I say Mr. Trump and Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden all the time. It's just using different words.” — Bill O’Reilly [05:49]
  • O’Reilly’s hypothetical questions for Trump, focusing on drug interdiction operations and foreign leaders:
    “I want to know about the drug boats getting blown up. How does that pipeline work?... Are you 100% sure they're drug boats? 90%?” [06:16]
    “Let's find out what President Trump thinks about Xi... You ask questions to get new things.” [06:33]

6. Historical Look: FDR’s Third Term and Legacy [08:27 – End]

• FDR’s Presidential Milestone:

  • Broke tradition in 1940 by seeking a third term; won in landslides in 1940 and 1944.
  • Presidency marked by declining health, kept secret from the public.
  • "On April 12, 1945, FDR...died from a massive stroke at the age of 63.” [08:58]

• Impact:

  • 1951: 22nd Amendment limits presidents to two terms.
  • FDR created 69 federal agencies, many still influential today (SEC, FCC, public housing, Social Security, Food Stamps).
  • “When FDR created that entitlement back in 1939, 4 million Americans received food. Now 42 million.” [09:40]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Election Sentiment:
  “I'm assuming people want lower taxes, but maybe… maybe they want more taxes because people in New York City want to raise taxes on the rich.” — Mike Slater [00:44]

• On Air Traffic Controller Dilemma:
  “Do they go to work as an air traffic controller or…do they go find a different job to get resources, money to put food on the table, put gas in the car.” — Mike Slater [01:52]

• Healthcare Preview:
  “The Democrats’ goal is turning the entire American healthcare industry over to bureaucrats in Washington.” — Bill O’Reilly [04:19]

• On Media Interviews:
  “The main takeaway for me was the hostility and complete lack of any sense of humor from Nora o’ Donnell.” — Listener, Arthur [05:20]
  “No, you can't just say president, president, president, president. I say Mr. Trump and Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden all the time. It's just using different words.” — Bill O’Reilly [05:49]

• Historical Impact:
  “Throughout his presidency, FDR's declining health was concealed from the public. The man suffered from partial paralysis. That was a polio thing.” — Bill O’Reilly [09:13]
  “Franklin Roosevelt's legacy is alive today... many [agencies] remain in our daily lives, including the securities and Exchange Commission, FCC, public housing, Social Security, and... food stamps.” — Bill O’Reilly [09:29]

Important Segment Timestamps

• Election Results Recap: 00:09 – 01:18
• Airspace Shutdown/Air Traffic Controllers: 01:18 – 02:10
• Harvard Bomb Arrests: 02:10 – 02:28
• Supreme Court and Tariffs: 02:28 – 03:03
• Bill O’Reilly Message of the Day: 03:57 – 07:56
• Historical Segment (FDR): 08:27 – end

Tone and Style

The episode is direct, analytical, and marked by O’Reilly’s trademark skepticism and focus on the “story behind the headlines.” Both he and Mike Slater relay information with pragmatism and occasional dry humor, interspersed with strong editorial flourishes, particularly regarding healthcare and political dysfunction.

Summary

This episode delivers a concise yet in-depth analysis of current political outcomes, pressing domestic issues like the government shutdown’s impact on air travel, high-stakes judicial developments, and the enduring relevance of historical policies. Listeners come away with a nuanced understanding, especially relating to complex entanglements in healthcare and governance, and the ongoing echoes of presidential legacies like FDR’s.