The O’Reilly Update – October 21, 2025

Podcast: Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis
Host: Bill O’Reilly
Episode Date: October 21, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of The O’Reilly Update covers significant national news stories, legal controversies regarding federal and immigration actions, a major tech outage, and political reflections. The episode features both news reporting (by Mike Slater) and commentary segments (from Bill O’Reilly), including O’Reilly’s signature "Message of the Day" and an in-depth look at the legal troubles of John Bolton.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. National Guard Deployment and Legal Rulings (00:10–01:30)

• Oregon National Guard in Portland:
  The Trump administration redeployed 200 Oregon National Guard members to protect federal property near a Portland ICE facility. Initial legal blocks were overturned by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, allowing the president’s order to proceed.

  • Quote (Mike Slater, 00:20):
    "The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals just said the president can do that... The Oregon attorney general said of the Ninth Circuit judges, they have chosen to not hold the president accountable."

• Shifts in the Ninth Circuit:
  Notably, the Ninth Circuit, formerly left-leaning, now has 13 of 29 judges appointed by Republican presidents, making it more centrist.

  • Quote (Mike Slater, 00:52):
    "Oddly worth noting, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which used to be this laughingstock... Now, 13 of the 29 judges were appointed by Republican presidents."

• Chicago Judge vs. ICE:
  A Chicago judge ruled ICE officers can be arrested if they detain suspected illegal immigrants in Cook County courthouses without a warrant.

2. Immigration Enforcement and Detentions (01:30–02:25)

• Mass Arrests Announced:
  The Trump administration claimed 480,000 illegal aliens have been arrested, with 70% facing criminal charges or convictions.

  • Quote (Mike Slater, 01:49):
    "We are not gonna let these individuals terrorize our streets anymore. We're not gonna let them make victims out of families that live in this country." (quoting Kristi Noem)

• Notable Arrests:
  Arrests highlighted included a Cuban national (convicted of homicide, ordered deported in 2008) and a Mexican national (convicted of incest with a minor, deportation ordered in 2019).

3. Prevented Atlanta Airport Shooting (02:25–02:48)

• Plot Disrupted:
  Police, alerted by family, arrested a man preparing to attack the Atlanta airport. He had 27 rounds of ammunition and was charged with terroristic threats and attempted aggravated assault.

4. Amazon Web Services Outage (02:48–03:06)

• Major Tech Disruption:
  Amazon Web Services' breakdown caused widespread internet outages, affecting users of Venmo, Outlook, Zoom, Snapchat, Lyft, Alexa, Ring, and more, before being resolved.

Bill O’Reilly’s Message of the Day (03:30–05:23)

• Political Tensions Post-Gaza Hostage Release:
  O’Reilly claims that the far left has increased anti-Trump activities, frustrated by the administration's foreign policy success, especially regarding the Gaza hostage situation.

  • Quote (Bill O'Reilly, 03:35):
    "The far left cadres have stepped up their anti-Trump activities after the hostage release in Gaza. That is driving the progressives crazy because any success by the Trump administration makes critics of the president look foolish."

• Biden vs. Trump Foreign Policy:
  O’Reilly draws sharp contrast, suggesting Biden's administration "failed" in international arenas, giving Trump credit for results.

  • Quote (Bill O'Reilly, 03:46):
    "President Biden tried but failed in the Middle East, Ukraine, Afghanistan, China. Few, if any foreign policy positives came out of the Biden Harris administration."

• Midterm Elections and Historical Legacy:
  Emphasizes that Trump's historical stature and critics’ influence hinge on the coming midterms.

  • Quote (Bill O'Reilly, 04:18):
    "President Trump has three more years to achieve historical greatness... his critics cannot really affect what happens unless the Democrats win the midterms next year."

• On Democratic Choice:
  O’Reilly underscores the importance of the voters’ power in shaping America’s direction.

Listener Mail (05:23–07:30)

• News Nation Appearance:
  Clarifies an air date and thanks a viewer:
  • "I don't care when you watched it. Thank you for watching it. Country needs to see more of the three Americans and they will, hopefully." (Bill O'Reilly, 05:41)
• Stephen A. Smith’s Walk-Off:
  Explains Smith left a stage after three large coffees, not just due to emotional reasons.
  • "That's God's honest truth. Got a lot of mileage out of that." (Bill O'Reilly, 05:58)
• Senator Fetterman’s Height:
  Confirms Fetterman is taller and heavier than O’Reilly.
  • "I think he's two inches taller. I'm six four. I think he's six six, well over 300 pounds. Enormous guy." (Bill O'Reilly, 06:07)
• Favorite Projects and Upcoming Specials:
  O’Reilly says he enjoys whatever he’s doing at the moment and previewed a Veterans Day special on News Nation (Nov 11).
  • "Whatever I'm doing at the moment. You know, you just have to be locked in on what you're doing." (Bill O'Reilly, 06:31)
• On Progressive Immigration Policy:
  Attributes progressive opposition to strict immigration enforcement to a "one world approach."
  • "The progressive movement doesn't want borders. They want everybody to go anyway. It's freedom whenever. That's what they want." (Bill O'Reilly, 07:14)

Something You Might Not Know: John Bolton Legal Troubles (07:57–10:27)

• Case Background:
  Trump’s former national security adviser, John Bolton, pleaded not guilty to mishandling classified material (18 counts). If convicted, he faces a decade in prison and $7 million in fines.
• Bolton’s Political History:
  Summarizes Bolton’s service under Republican presidents and his eventual break with Trump over major foreign policy issues.
  • Bolton's critique: "Look, I don't think Trump is fit to be president. I've said that for a long time. It's very bad news for the United States and all of its friends around the world that we're going through this now." (O'Reilly quoting Bolton, 08:44)
  • Trump’s retort: "I'm not a fan of John Bolton. I thought he was a sleazebag, actually. And he suffers major Trump derangement syndrome." (O'Reilly quoting Trump, 09:17)
• Legal and Financial Proceedings:
  Bolton’s legal defense may exceed $5 million; he has retained attorney Abbe Lowell at a thousand dollars an hour. Next hearing set for Nov. 21.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Ninth Circuit's shift (Mike Slater, 00:52):
  "It's a pretty centrist circuit court, actually."
• On policy and accountability (Bill O'Reilly, 04:44):
  "Once again, the voters have the power to decide whether it's Trump or the progressive movement that they want to lead the country."
• On progressive border attitudes (Bill O'Reilly, 07:14):
  "The progressive movement doesn't want borders. They want everybody to go anyway. It's freedom whenever. That's what they want."
• On John Bolton’s legacy (Bill O'Reilly, 09:47):
  "Nobody knows how this is going to turn out, but it's certainly not a good look for John Bolton."

Useful Timestamps

• National Guard, ICE, and Immigration News: 00:10–02:25
• Airport Shooting Prevented: 02:25–02:48
• AWS Outage: 02:48–03:06
• O'Reilly's Message of the Day: 03:30–05:23
• Listener Mail: 05:23–07:30
• John Bolton Section: 07:57–10:27

Tone and Style

Bill O’Reilly maintains his trademark direct commentary (“no spin, just facts”) with a blend of sharp critique, wry humor, and audience engagement. Mike Slater’s news delivery is straightforward and concise, laying out complex legal shifts in accessible terms.

For more in-depth analysis and future updates, listeners are directed to BillOReilly.com.