The O'Reilly Update, February 25, 2026

Bill O'Reilly here. You are listening to the O'Reilly Update. Coming up next, the news with Mike Slater. Thank you, Bill. It is Wednesday, February 25th, 2026. Here's what's happening today in America. The State of the Union is gold, medal ceremony, and building up for Iran. It's all coming up, and Bill's going to be here with your message of the day. But first, the president had an incredible State of the Union last night, longest ever. some of the 90-10 issues that he presented, the SAVE Act, which says you need an ID to vote, no driver's licenses for illegal aliens driving 18-wheelers, $1,000 for every child in Trump accounts, no AI data centers without electric bills staying the same, protecting people in neighborhoods, and ending insider trading by members of Congress. Pretty 90-10 issues there. Of course, the contrast was stunning with the Democrats. At one point, the president said the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens rather than illegal aliens. No Democrats stood up. You will be seeing that many times from now until November. Many Democrats also did not stand for the mother of Arinia Zarytska, who was killed on that train in Charlotte by a career criminal who had been arrested 14 times. Democrats did not honor her. They did not even stand and applaud for Michael Dell for his $6.25 billion donation to Trump Accounts. It's the largest charitable donation in American history. And they didn't want to applaud it because it's called Trump Accounts and they have TDS. The president did give out many awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Team USA hockey goalie. Also a Purple Heart to the National Guardsman who was severely injured when an Afghan killed another National Guardsman and then wounded him in D.C. The president also gave the Legion of Merit to a U.S. Coast Guard officer for his heroic rescue of over 150 girls at that Central Texas flooding last year. And then two Medal of Honors, one to Eric Slover, who is a special operations helicopter pilot who was shot multiple times in the raid that captured Maduro not long ago. He was flying the Chinook and multiple rounds tore through the cockpit and went into his legs and hip and he kept flying. Also medal of honor to Navy Captain Royce Williams He 100 years old He had a 35 minute dogfight in the Korean War longest ever in US Navy history It was seven verse one He was the one He shot down four two crashed He finally made it back to the carrier with over 240 bullet holes in his plane The president spoke of Iran last night as well. The U.S. has reportedly moved 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East in just the last week or so. There are also reportedly 12 U.S. stealth F-22s in Israel as Marco Rubio met with lawmakers in D.C. to explain what the plans are. I'm Mike Slater. I have a podcast called Politics by Faith. Bill O'Reilly has your message of the day next. Time now for the O'Reilly Update message of the day. On this Wednesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom has a book out. So he's running around giving interviews trying to market it. For a guy like Newsom who has enemies, this is not an easy thing. Speaking to a black interviewer in Atlanta, Newsom tried to make the point that he was no genius as a kid. He pointed to his low SAT scores, saying they indicate that he is, quote, just like you. Uh-oh. Because the show host is black, the governor was immediately accused of being racist, A cheap insult usually made against conservatives by liberals, but this time it was vice versa. The R word often used to demonize its target, perhaps cancel the person. Obviously, the ultra liberal Newsom does not want to insult black Americans. His intent was to portray himself as a regular guy who eventually made it. It doesn't matter. Newsom was pounded. There are far better ways to dissent from Governor Newsom's agenda than to tag him with a dishonest label. His record in California is certainly up for scrutiny. But peddling hatred is much easier than honest analysis, as Gavin Newsom has learned the hard way. I'm Bill O'Reilly. I approve the message by writing it, you can reach me, Bill at Bill O'Reilly.com, Bill at Bill O'Reilly.com, name in town if you wish to opine. Go to the mail, Neil. Hey Bill with regard to the invitations to the hockey team it really an unfair positioning on your part Okay Neil I being unfair First President Trump personally invited the men hockey team but some of the players immediately responded No coaches, management, or other executives had input. In fact, I'm not sure the U.S. men's hockey team as an organization even formally responded. Separately, well, on the phone, Trump backhandedly invited the women's team. It was a joke, number one, Neil. You may not have liked the joke, but it was a joke. Number two, the men's hockey team decided for itself whether they would go or not. And that's what should happen to the women. The women should have decided where they want to go to the State of the Union, not some people running the team. And I'll name the people on the YouTube thing. I'll name the people who made the decision. The hockey players didn't make it. It's an amazing story not being reported. But I was fair. Robin White, Chester, Virginia. I, too, am proud of both teams. Excellent players. I'm happy the USA won. I'd like Canada to know their team is amazing. Yeah. And I want detente with Canada. I am absolutely convinced that would be the best thing for our country and the world. John Concierge, remember? John, remember, if you've got a problem, you've got to follow our direction here. I hope President Trump reads your column and realizes it's a necessary blunder to attack Canada. Well, he's not attacking them. He's criticizing them. And they have taken advantage of us. But enough's enough. Okay? Perry. Hey, Bill, isn't it Canadians that are the problem? It isn't Canadians, Perry says. It isn't Canadians that are the problem. It's their leadership. The country has drifted way too far left. I don't disagree with that. In a moment, something you might not know. Now the O'Reilly Update brings you something you might not know. 62 years ago today, a young boxer named Cassius Clay dethroned heavyweight champion Sonny Liston. The loquacious young man would become the greatest fighter of all time. But did Liston throw the fight? Here is the story Cassius Clay born outside of Louisville Kentucky 1942 By the age of 18 he had 100 wins on the amateur circuit By 1960, he won the Golden Globes title and gold medal at the Olympics in Rome. Clay turned professional after the summer games and went on to be undefeated in his first 19 bouts, changing his name to Muhammad Ali in the process. On February 25, 1964, a crowd of 9,000 gathered at the convention hall in Miami Beach to watch now Muhammad Ali take on Sonny Liston. Gamblers in Vegas had the odds of Liston winning 15 to 1. Sonny allegedly injured his shoulder early in the fight, then decided to call it quits between the sixth and seventh rounds. Years later, it was suspected that fight was fixed. Documents from the FBI show the Bureau believe the mob rigged the event to make a fortune in Vegas. Sonny Lisson met with known gangsters leading up to the fight. The scheme reportedly earned the mob about $2 million because they bet against the champion Liston. And here's something else you might not know. After defeating Liston, Cassius Clay celebrated with a lavish party at a Miami hotel. In attendance that evening was Malcolm X. Two days later, Cassius announced he was joining the nation of Islam and rejecting his family name, saying it was given to him by slave masters. For more incredible stories about organized crime in America and the life of Muhammad Ali, please check out my books Killing the Mob and Killing the Legends. Back in a moment. Thank you for listening to the O'Reilly Update. I am Bill O'Reilly. No spin, just facts, and always looking out for you.