Bill O’Reilly Slams Stephen Colbert and Rachel Maddow for “Irresponsible” Trump Rhetoric, Warns of Media Bias and Constitutional Ignorance

In a fiery new segment of his “No Spin News” broadcast, veteran commentator Bill O’Reilly took direct aim at two of the most recognizable voices in American media: CBS’s Stephen Colbert and MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow. O’Reilly, a longtime critic of media partisanship, accused both figures of pushing “irresponsible and factually misleading” narratives about former President Donald Trump and the current state of U.S. democratic institutions.

O’Reilly opened with a swipe at the declining influence of late-night television, calling Colbert’s show “not funny” and “agenda-driven.” Recalling his own many appearances on legacy programs like The Tonight Show and Late Show with David Letterman, O’Reilly noted that late-night once offered entertainment across the political spectrum. “Now,” he said, “very few people watch them because they’re not funny. At that hour, people want to relax—not be agitated.”

He singled out Colbert as a “hardcore leftist” whose comedy has devolved into political preaching, claiming that conservative voices are systematically excluded from Colbert’s platform. “You can’t get on Colbert’s show if you’re not a raving liberal,” O’Reilly asserted.

But his most detailed rebuke was reserved for MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, whom he labeled the “premier liberal voice in television.” While O’Reilly acknowledged Maddow’s success and talent, he blasted her for recent remarks suggesting that Republicans were moving toward authoritarianism under Trump, even implying that elections could be undermined or eliminated altogether.

“She has no idea what the Constitution says,” O’Reilly said flatly, before launching into a point-by-point constitutional analysis. He defended the executive branch’s oversight of federal spending, arguing that the president—any president—has the legal authority and duty to intervene when taxpayer funds are misused.

“Congress passes the budget, but it’s the executive branch that ensures the money is spent properly,” O’Reilly explained. “If someone is stealing from the Department of the Interior, the Justice Department makes the arrest. That’s not Congress’s job. That’s the president’s responsibility as the chief law enforcement officer of the country.”

To O’Reilly, Maddow’s suggestion that Trump or any president consolidating power amounts to an effort to abolish elections is not only inaccurate but dangerously misleading. “Did Trump not leave office when he lost to Biden? Yes, he did. He wasn’t dragged out,” he said.

He also accused Maddow of ignoring real examples of misuse of federal funds—particularly in states like California, where he claims Medicaid dollars are spent on non-healthcare initiatives, such as dance programs in underserved communities. “That’s corruption,” O’Reilly said. “Medicaid is not to be used for dance programs.”

O’Reilly suggested that both Maddow and Colbert are motivated by two things: ideology and money. “They live in a bubble,” he said. “They believe what they want to believe, and they don’t want to hear facts that challenge their narrative.” He also claimed that massive paychecks encourage media figures to double down on partisan messaging. “Wave that check in front of them and suddenly they’re zealots.”

Notably, O’Reilly acknowledged that this phenomenon isn’t exclusive to the left. Drawing on his years at Fox News, he said he’s seen his share of “phonies” on the right—people who espoused conservative views for personal gain rather than conviction. “I only put on guests who were sincere, liberal or conservative. You can always tell,” he said.

As for the legacy of late-night comedy and liberal commentary, O’Reilly seemed unimpressed with Colbert’s reach. “He’s down to about two million viewers a night,” he said. “Johnny Carson had nine million. And Colbert’s numbers are shrinking.”

In closing, O’Reilly softened his tone—slightly—with regard to Maddow. “I have nothing against her. She’s made a success of herself, and that’s not easy in this country,” he said. “But the things she says about Trump and authoritarianism—they’re not based in fact. And facts matter.”

In an era of hyper-polarized media and shrinking trust in journalism, O’Reilly’s blistering critique is likely to resonate with conservative viewers—and infuriate critics who see his own record as emblematic of the very bias he decries. Still, one thing is clear: the war over truth in American media is far from over, and Bill O’Reilly has no intention of backing down.