Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis

Episode: The O'Reilly Update, October 16, 2025
Host: Bill O'Reilly
Date: October 16, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Bill O’Reilly and news anchor Mike Slater cover significant developments in U.S. politics and world affairs, with a particular focus on changes to the Voting Rights Act, federal firings during the government shutdown, Trump’s authorization of CIA actions in Venezuela, and the style of strongman leadership exhibited by President Trump. The episode also features historical context regarding race relations and presidential leadership, listener mail, and a memorable segment about Theodore Roosevelt’s controversial dinner with Booker T. Washington.

Key News Highlights & Insights

1. Supreme Court and Voting Rights Act

[00:10 – 01:32]

• The Supreme Court appears poised to limit aspects of the Voting Rights Act, specifically regarding race as a factor in drawing Louisiana’s second congressional district.
• According to Mike Slater, “The court's conservative majority seems to believe it's against the law to use race as a factor in creating a congressional district.”
• He explains the dilemma: “Now you're a racist either way. Either states pack more black people into a single congressional district, diluting their vote, or the state will split black areas into multiple districts… So you get called racist no matter what you do.”
• Several justices suggest plaintiffs should prove some level of discriminatory intent, raising the standard for legal challenges.

2. High-Level Flight Diversions

[01:32 – 01:55]

• Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War, had his plane diverted to England due to a cracked windshield post-NATO summit.
• This follows a similar February incident when an Air Force C32 with Marco Rubio onboard was forced to return because of a windshield crack.

3. Judge Halts Federal Firings During Shutdown

[01:55 – 02:30]

• A district judge ordered the Trump administration to halt firings (not furloughs) of more than 4,000 federal workers due to the government shutdown.
• Russ Vought argued the firings were necessary because of a lack of congressional appropriations, but the judge criticized the approach as "ready, fire, aim" and stressed the human cost.
• House Speaker Mike Johnson warns this may become the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

4. CIA Actions Authorized in Venezuela

[02:30 – 03:00]

• President Trump confirmed authorization of CIA action in Venezuela, possibly including land strikes.
• Trump cites concerns over drugs and migrant flows:

  “Authorized for two reasons. Number one, they've emptied their prisons into the United States... The other thing are drugs. We have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela and a lot of Venezuelan drugs coming through the sea. We're going to stop that and we're going to stop them by land also.” (Donald Trump, [02:41])

• Trump emphasized that not just Venezuela but other countries “are feeling heat, too.”

  “We're not gonna let this country, our country, be ruined because other people wanna drop their worst here.” (Donald Trump, [02:55])

The O’Reilly Message of the Day: Presidential Swagger and Strongman Politics

[03:39 – 06:05]

• Bill O’Reilly discusses President Trump’s leadership style, comparing it to Andrew Jackson and Theodore Roosevelt.

  “Mr. Trump is governing as a strong man leader who gets things done by using naked power... The Middle east chieftains like that … The Chinese respect unbridled authority and so does Putin, who still idolizes the mass murderer Stalin to this day.” (Bill O'Reilly, [03:51])

• O’Reilly argues Americans are divided on authoritative leadership: “Here in the USA, millions do not like authoritarian leadership, even if it stays within legal bounds. The Woke and Me Too movements are dedicated to bringing down male power.”
• He portrays Trump as the “king of swagger,” distinguishing him from recent presidents:

  “Barack Obama and Joe Biden did not lead with swagger... Donald Trump completely rejects that approach. He is the king of swagger as well as a very impatient man. Get it done. We'll find a way to keep it legal.” (Bill O'Reilly, [04:43])

• Assessment: “In less than a year, President Trump has shaken up the entire world.”

Listener Mailbag

[06:06 – 08:54]

• O’Reilly reads and responds to listener questions about Middle East peace negotiations, past presidents’ reactions to Trump, and Trump’s work ethic:
  • Phil King, St. Charles, Missouri: Reflects on repeated failed peace deals:

    “Radicals want to kill all Israelis and will never stop. Okay, but you still got to make the deal when you can save lives. Never going to stop. It's never going to stop. But you get what you can.” (Bill O'Reilly paraphrasing & comment, [06:30])

  • William (concierge member): Asks why Obama was negative about Trump’s Middle East success:

    “He was not negative. He just didn't credit Donald Trump. Likes the deal but didn't mention Donald Trump.” (Bill O'Reilly, [06:54])

  • Steve A: Praises Trump’s stamina and travel:

    “I can't believe the stamina of President Trump. He flies on one side of the globe to another, very little rest and can still act presidential. A far cry from his predecessor... he is the hardest working president in history. And it's not even close really at this point.” (Bill O'Reilly, [07:30])

  • John, Florida: Notes lack of public praise from Bush for Trump:

    “Very strange. He doesn't like Trump. I understand. But in a moment, something you might not know.” (Bill O'Reilly, [08:40])

Notable Quote Highlight

“Mr. Trump is governing as a strong man leader who gets things done by using naked power.... But here in the usa, millions do not like authoritarian leadership, even if it stays within legal bounds. The Woke and Me Too movements are dedicated to bringing down male power.”
— Bill O’Reilly [03:45]

Something You Might Not Know: Roosevelt, Booker T. Washington, and a White House Dinner

[09:13 – 11:38]

• O’Reilly recounts the 1901 White House dinner between President Theodore Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington (former slave, educator), triggering national outrage in the Jim Crow South.
• Backlash highlighted by quotes from contemporary politicians and Southern press, such as:

  “The White House is so saturated with odor that the rats have taken refuge in the stables.” (Mississippi Democrat, [10:11]) “Roosevelt committed the most damnable outrage which has ever been perpetuated by any citizen of the United States.” (Nashville newspaper, [10:17]) “This means that the president is willing that Negroes shall mingle freely with whites in his social circle...” (Richmond Times, [10:22])

• The event led to a 30-year gap before another black American dined with the president.
• O’Reilly notes,

  “Roosevelt's response to his critics, quote, 'I shall have him dine as often as I please.'” (Bill O’Reilly, [10:32])

• He highlights the policy impact and plugs his book Confronting Evil.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On government firings and shutdown:

  "The judge said it's very much ready, fire, aim on most of these programs. And it has a human cost. It's a human cost that cannot be tolerated." (Mike Slater, [02:20])

• On Venezuela:

  “We’re not gonna let this country, our country, be ruined because other people wanna drop their worst here.” (Donald Trump, [02:55])

• On presidential energy:

  “He could have put it off to Friday. Okay. And he said, no, I'm going to do it on his birthday. So the guy, he is the hardest working president in history. And it’s not even close really at this point.” (Bill O’Reilly, [07:35])

Important Timestamps

• 00:10: Supreme Court debates Voting Rights Act
• 01:32: Pete Hegseth's plane emergency
• 01:55: Judge stops Trump’s federal worker firings
• 02:30: Trump’s CIA authorization in Venezuela
• 03:39: O’Reilly’s “Message of the Day”: Strongman Presidents
• 06:06: Listener Mailbag
• 09:13: “Something You Might Not Know” – Roosevelt & Booker T. Washington

Tone & Takeaways

• The tone is direct and unapologetically opinionated (“No Spin. Just Facts”), with a clear preference for strong, decisive leadership.
• O’Reilly and Slater provide context-heavy news summaries, delivering commentary that encourages skepticism of establishment narratives, especially on race, governance, and Trump-era politics.
• The historical segment offers a moment of reflection on race relations and the impact of presidential decisions on both policy and society.

For more, visit BillOReilly.com or listen to the full episode for unfiltered commentary and analysis.