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 Tuesday, February 17th, 2026. Here's what's happening today in America. Board of Peace. Sewage spill. I love the smell of napalm in the morning. An Olympics update. It's all coming up. Bill's going to be here with your message of the day. But first, President Trump's newly formed Board of Peace will convene in Washington this week to announce its member states have committed $5 billion towards rebuilding Gaza. It'll be the first official gathering of the group since its founding in January. The president said just last month, two dozen distinguished founding members joined me in Davos, Switzerland, to celebrate its official formation and present a bold vision for the civilians in Gaza, and then ultimately far beyond Gaza, world peace. The nations on this board of peace include many Middle Eastern countries like Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, but also Argentina and El Salvador. No European countries are on it because they're worried that it will rival the United Nations, which obviously is worthless. There's been a massive sewage spill in the Potomac River. It's not the federal government's responsibility, but the president said he's directing federal authorities to immediately provide all necessary management, direction, and coordination to protect the river. The president said there's a massive ecological disaster unfolding in the river as a result of the gross mismanagement of local Democratic leaders, particularly Governor Westmore of Maryland, who can't even build a bridge. A sewer line breach caused millions of gallons of raw sewage to be dumped in the river, a result of incompetent local and state management of essential waste management systems. The president said that although state and local authorities had not requested emergency help, he's unable to allow incompetent local leadership to turn the river in the heart of Washington into a disaster zone. The spill started January 19th. 243 million gallons of wastewater have been sent into the river. Robert Duvall, the Academy Award-winning actor, The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, To Kill a Mockingbird, True Grit, MASH Network, died at the age of 95. His wife wrote, Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time. Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort. His wife said, The family encourages those who wish to honor his memory to do so in a way that reflects the life he lived by watching a great film telling a good story around a table with friends or taking a drive in the countryside to appreciate the world beauty Olympic update, a gold and bronze in the women's monobob. That's bobsled, but with one person. And another great win from the women's hockey team. Another shutout, 5-0 against Sweden, who we have not forgotten, gave us a major upset in the 2006 Olympics. The gold medal game for women's hockey is against our rivals Canada Thursday at 110 Eastern. I'm Mike Slater. I have a podcast called Politics by Faith. The great Bill O'Reilly has your message of the day next. Time now for the O'Reilly Update message of the day. On this Tuesday, President Trump has just about seven months to convince voters the Republican Party should retain power. As you've heard, incumbent presidents often get hammered in midterm elections. for perceived failure to meet expectations. Despite media opposition, Mr. Trump's policies may give the GOP some strong arguments. Here are some bullet points. Inflation and unemployment are under control. The spending and trade deficits shrinking. Excellent outcome for one year in office. Gas prices at the pump down significantly, but home utilities are not. The brutal cold in the Northeast will hurt consumers. Food prices are mixed. If you buy at premium places like Whole Foods, you'll get hurt. If you go to big discount stores like Costco, your budget will be easier. Insurance costs, painful. Big problem for Republicans. The border is secure, but ICE has a public relations problem. This can be fixed with more information about migrant detentions. That needs to happen pretty soon. The Venezuelan intervention was a success. Next up, Iran. Putin's in trouble with his own people. But Americans do not vote foreign policy. However, the GOP does have an unreported advantage, the radicalization of the Democratic Party. In 1999, just 5% of Dems said they were very liberal. Today, the number has risen to 21%. American voters generally do not like zealots. That can help Republicans I Bill O I approve the message by writing it You can reach me bill at billoreilly bill at billoreilly Name in town if you wish to opine Let's go to the mail. We got Maureen on the message board. Where's the outcry from the left that 18 people froze to death in New York City? Crickets. What a disgrace. Also, why have we heard the clergy about the horrible tragedy. Clergy is an interesting point you're making. I haven't heard any big time New York clergy people say anything about Mandami refusing to remove people when it's three degrees and they die. Mandami, he doesn't care. You got to understand something about this totalitarian communist movement. The individual doesn't matter. He or she is not a primary concern in China, in Russia, in Cuba. It's the state. And if the state says we're not going to remove people for whatever stupid reason. And remember, this was policy in New York City for decades. Temperature got cold. People, the cops took the people off the street, whether they liked it or not. Not man-dying. Ron Perry, Drums, Pennsylvania. You think the divisiveness in this country will end when President Trump leaves office? No. Nope. I think that progressive movement is really entrenched now. And they're going to, you know, do what they have to do to overthrow traditional America. That's what they want. In a moment, something you might not know. Now the O'Reilly Update brings you something you might not know. 117 years ago today, a Native American warrior who resisted American expansion died of pneumonia. His name will go down in history as one of the greatest leaders of all time. Here is the story of Geronimo. The young Apache was given the birth name Goyacla, meaning he who yawns. As a teenager his tribe of 8 Indians were fighting Mexicans to the south Americans to the north Comanches and Navajos to the east and west Nonstop violence The boy soon earned the name Geronimo. Legend states the moniker began when terrified Mexican soldiers screamed for St. Jerome when facing the Apache in battle. Personal tragedy shaped Geronimo's lifelong hatred for non-natives. While away on a trading expedition, foreign soldiers attacked his family, killing his mother, wife, and their three children. Seeking revenge, Geronimo launched vicious campaigns against Mexican and American settlers. In 1874, the U.S. government ordered the Apaches to move from their land in Arizona to an Indian reservation. Geronimo refused. Over the next decade, he battled federal troops and launched raids on white settlements. September 1886, the Apache leader and his band of 200 fighters surrendered to the American army. the Indian Wars of the Southwest were essentially over. Geronimo was then dispatched first to Florida, then Alabama, finally Oklahoma. There he converted to Christianity, spent his final years as a farmer. He died on February 17th, 1909 at the age of 79. And here's something else you might not know. Today, Geronimo is synonymous with bravery on the battlefield. During World War II, American parachutists yelled the name when jumping out of planes. In May 2011, Geronimo was the military code for the capture or death of Osama bin Laden. For more amazing tales about the exploits of Geronimo, Sitting Bull, and other Indian warriors, please check out my best-selling book, Killing Crazy Horse. Back after this. Thank you for listening to the O'Reilly Update. I am Bill O'Reilly, no spin, just facts, and always looking out for you.
