Podcast Summary: The O’Reilly Update, November 8, 2025

Host: Bill O’Reilly
News Briefs: Mike Slater
Episode Date: November 8, 2025

Overview

This weekend edition of The O’Reilly Update covers key developments in American news, including sweeping airline flight cancellations, a major Supreme Court decision on passport gender designation, Nancy Pelosi’s announced retirement, and the end of an iconic publication. Bill O’Reilly provides in-depth analysis on the U.S. government shutdown, delves into the ongoing political healthcare standoff, and shares thoughts on media interviews with President Trump. The episode wraps with a historical look back at the 1992 U.S. presidential election.

Major News Highlights with Mike Slater ([00:41 – 03:25])

• Airline Flight Cancellations

  • Hundreds of flights are being canceled at 40 major U.S. airports due to FAA flight capacity limits.
  • American Airlines: About 220 of 6,000 flights canceled.
  • United Airlines: 200 out of 5,000+ flights canceled.
  • United claims half of affected customers were able to rebook within four hours.

• Supreme Court Ruling on Passports

  • “The Supreme Court yesterday allowed the Trump administration to move forward with new rules regulating all US Passports display of a citizen's biological sex at birth rather than their gender identity.” ([01:32])
  • Decision: 6-3 in favor of the administration’s rule; cites government’s interest in identification consistency and foreign affairs.

• Nancy Pelosi to Retire

  • Nancy Pelosi announces she will not seek reelection.
  • Tributes from Bill Clinton (“one of the most effective leaders ever to serve in the United States Congress”), Barack Obama (“no one was more skilled at bringing people together”), and Donald Trump (“great thing for America. She was evil, corrupt…”).

• The End of the Old Farmer’s Almanac

  • After 208 years, the Old Farmer’s Almanac will publish its final issue in 2026.

O’Reilly’s Message of the Day: The Truth Behind the Government Shutdown ([03:30 – 06:20])

• Partisan Deadlock
  • Both parties blame each other for causing the government shutdown.
  • “The division is now so wide it’s tough to compromise.”
• Healthcare at the Forefront
  • Democrats are demanding a “massive uptick in Obamacare spending” before approving federal funding.
  • Republicans refuse, citing already high expenses and rejecting “more than a trillion dollars more into it.”
• Long-Term Democrat Goal
  • O’Reilly asserts:
    “The Democrats’ goal is turning the entire American healthcare industry over to bureaucrats in Washington. But if that ever happens, many doctors will detach from government health care and offer private services that only affluent Americans can afford.” ([05:10])
  • Warns of a “concierge medicine” system like in Great Britain.
  • Emphasizes, “the US Government cannot force doctors or anybody else to do anything in the workplace.”

Listener Mail & O’Reilly Unfiltered ([06:20 – 09:35])

• 60 Minutes Interview with President Trump

  • Listener feedback: Interview “hostile,” “lacking humor,” “no new news.”
  • On the interviewer (Norah O’Donnell) being possibly too harsh or unfunny.
  • Trump called “Mr. Trump” instead of “President”—some listeners found this insulting, but O’Reilly disagrees:
    • “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. So you’re not repetitious. Mr. is the title, sir is the title for a president.” ([07:50])

• Questions O’Reilly Would Ask Trump

  • Interested in:
    • How drug smuggling operations in “drug boats” are targeted.
    • U.S. intelligence tactics—“Are you 100% sure they’re drug boats? It’s 90% [certain]?”
    • On foreign personalities like China’s Xi Jinping, referencing previous interviews:
      “In 2016 at the Super Bowl interview, I asked: Wait a minute, you’re going to be friends with Putin? He’s a killer.” ([08:45])
    • Emphasizes the value of asking questions to get “new things.”

Historical Feature: The 1992 Presidential Election ([09:35 – 12:17])

• Overview

  • 33 years ago: Bill Clinton beats George Bush (Sr.) and Ross Perot.
  • Clinton: Focused on the economy, healthcare, welfare, modernizing government.
  • Bush: Approval rating slipped due to market, taxes, overseas “chaos.”
  • Ross Perot: Independent; utilized infomercials, rarely traveled, opposed NAFTA, vowed to end national debt.

• Election Results

  • Clinton: 43% popular vote, 370 electoral votes.
  • Bush: 37% popular vote, 168 electoral votes.
  • Perot: 19% popular vote, 0 electoral votes.

• Key Insight

  • “While Ross Perot failed to win, his campaign swayed the election towards Bill Clinton. Postio Perot siphoned off key voters from the Republicans, younger people, union members, factory workers.” ([11:45])

• Reference

  • O’Reilly plugs his book “Confronting the Presidents” for more on presidential history.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mike Slater on Supreme Court ruling:
  “The majority found that the government’s interest in maintaining consistent identification and foreign affairs standards outweighed immediate harms to transgender and non-binary applicants.” ([01:55])

• O’Reilly on bipartisanship:
  “The division is now so wide, it’s tough to compromise.” ([03:52])

• Listener’s critique of 60 Minutes interview:
  “The best thing I can say is it wasn’t as terrible as the Leslie Stahl interview. The main takeaway for me was the hostility and complete lack of any sense of humor from Norah O’Donnell.” ([06:38])

• O’Reilly’s media style:
  “You ask questions to get new things.” ([08:55])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:41] News Recap with Mike Slater
• [01:32] Supreme Court Decision on Passports
• [02:13] Pelosi Announces Retirement
• [02:42] Old Farmer’s Almanac to End Publication
• [03:30] O’Reilly’s Message: Government Shutdown & Healthcare
• [06:20] Listener Mail on 60 Minutes/Trump Interview
• [08:45] O’Reilly on Interview Strategy
• [09:35] Historic Look: Election of 1992
• [11:45] Perot’s Impact and Final Reflections

Bonus: Historical Sidebar

• The unique, lasting influence of Ross Perot as a third-party candidate; his campaign’s effect on American politics and the 1992 election outcome.

Tone & Style

The discussion is factual with O’Reilly’s trademark directness, skepticism toward political gridlock, and occasional sarcasm—particularly in his commentary on healthcare and media interviews. Listener interactions provide a conversational, relatable break from formal news analysis.

For further analysis and historical insights, listeners can visit BillOReilly.com as suggested by the host.