Bill O'Reilly | Full Episode 9.20.24 | Firing Line with Margaret Hoover | PBS

Former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly sits down with Margaret Hoover, a former guest on "The O'Reilly Factor." The conversation covers his new book on America's presidents, the 2024 race, and sexual harassment allegations that led to his exit from Fox.
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FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER airs on PBS. Launched in June 2018, Firing Line maintains the character of the original series by William F. Buckley Jr., providing a platform that is diligent in its commitment to a balanced exchange of opinion. In weekly 30-minute episodes, host Margaret Hoover engages in a rigorous exchange of ideas with political leaders, cultural luminaries, thought leaders and activists who represent a wide range of ideas and perspectives. New episodes are available Fridays here on KZbin at 8:30 pm ET.

[@bluewavesports]

Let the facts be clear… Herbert Hoover was an absolute train wreck President.

[@jps0117]

So Edith Bunker was wrong? :)

[@JDUKLETH]

Incredible interview ! As a centrist Democrat, I watch and enjoy your show Margaret, because you embody the old school way of talking with people from both sides of our divided country with intelligence and respect for one another. Bill O'Reilley however, is a very key part of why we are so divided. Interjecting Rush Limbaugh into the conversation brings us back to when this division really took off. And Rush admits it was for ratings. So Rush and Bill and Sean and Tucker are literally succeeding at tearing our country apart for their own ratings and wealth. Margaret, thank you for holding his feet to the fire and not being intimidated - because he clearly feels entitled and was clearly no match for you !

[@thomassenbart]

Bill’s books are bad history full of the kind of errors that Hoover mentioned.

[@MA-qw8gw]

“I don’t rank them…” immediately ranks them lol

[@vegaa1]

I don't know much about the Bill O'Reilly & Fox News sexual assault saga, but it was good seeing Bill confront Margaret on her writing from a distance but with so much conviction bc she felt strongly about something. Regardless of which "side" you're on, we all know that the official story is rarely ever the whole story. And it's hard to tell whether journalism is more incendiary than enlightening at this point. But most of the commenters here seem to be the "You go girl!" types On the topic of Bill's history book tho, if Margaret was able to find the kind of errors of fact she found, it raises questions about the rest of the book's credibility

[@terryprice2429]

Margaret, you did a terrific job of interviewing Bill who is a chauvinistic jerk very misogynistic and condescending to you. You handle yourself well girl. I'm proud of you❤

[@rievans57]

I have seen O'Reilly be a complete a-hole to others so I guess karma is a b----!

[@sherbournesubwaymess]

Bill really should have put her on the spot with a 'yes/no' question: Did he (Bill) sexually harass/mistreat her on the four years she was on his show?

[@matty_o]

Do yout thing gurl. Keep going strong on interviews like these

[@Angeleno-rf1qz]

Next subject for her to interview and ask tough questions: KAMALA 😊

[@brookelauter5428]

Incredible guts and equilibrium handling the interview with Bill O'Reilly, Margaret. Your professionalism continues to lead the way for Republicans, Democrats, and folks of all political stripes to have an open and balanced discourse. You "brought it " tonight as you do in all your interviews. Thanks for being a light in these challenging times.

[@D12345]

"Ted Baxter" 🤣. That was funny. The show ended the year Hoover was born.

[@debbiemetke5938]

Thanks for standing up to that loathsome bully, Margaret. I've never seen you have to be with somebody so despicable before.

[@brucelockwood4701]

Margaret, your performance on this program elevates you to being a true, moral leader. You are a top-notch journalist and human being! 🙏

[@danjackson5989]

well done! They should show this interview in journalism school.

[@angelgarza2215]

You mean activist journalism school right?

[@danjackson5989]

@@angelgarza2215 grow up. Just cuz you don't like the reportage doesn't mean it was inaccurate. It means the truth hurts. Sounds like an Angela problem.

[@cassiqu]

The entitlement is maintaining a tenacious hold on process, with refusal to look at details or cultural consequences on people’s lives. I respected the honest questions, persist in questioning despite O’Reilly’s disinterest in anything outside the role he chose.

[@joepassante8498]

Well done Margaret.

[@jsharp3165]

I don't think I can sit through this one, even though I like Margaret. O'Reilly is one of the chief contributors to our current toxic climate.

[@mab2112]

Agreed. And he is just trying to hawk his new book. He and Rush Limbaugh did immeasurable damage to our democracy all to make $. Hard pass on this interview.

[@mab2112]

Agreed. And he is just trying to hawk his book. He and Rush Limbaugh did immeasurable damage to our democracy. Hard pass on this interview.

[@mab2112]

Agreed. And he is just trying to hawk his book. He and Rush Limbaugh did immeasurable damage to our democracy. Hard pass on this interview.

[@mab2112]

Agreed. And he is just trying to hawk his book. He and Rush Limbaugh did immeasurable damage to our democracy. Hard pass on this interview.

[@mab2112]

Agreed. And he is just trying to hawk his book. He and Rush Limbaugh did immeasurable damage to our democracy. Hard pass on this interview.

[@scottsammons7747]

I will take Margaret Hoover over O'Reilly everyday.

[@scottb.6725]

Apparently, Mr. 'No Spin Zone' doesn't like to answer hard questions. Good job M. Hoover!

[@geminisax6115]

You did well Margaret . O’Reilly is tries to be shows he knows all the right answers , but refused to be open and his sexual abuse of women .

[@jafo3814]

I have new found respect for Margaret Hoover. It is a fact that O'Reilly's victims don't have a fair shot at cleansing themselves to remove the O'Reilly stench. The way Bill O'Reilly leaned towards Margaret Hoover was a chest pounding intimidation move; He FAILED!!!

[@vestcoat]

I am SO PROUD of you, Margaret, for not buckling down under Bill’s bullshit answers. You are my hero!

[@Mario500NOW]

(suggestion: never curse (or profane) thy self (or any other self))

[@christophercomitini8619]

Very good interview!! Margaret Hoover is a very good interviewer and brought the facts but she also should have said she was on his program for four years and never had an issue with O'Reilly. That's a fact Ms. Hoover.

[@jackcrevalle7855]

The interviewer kept throwing out the term "culture" Bill should have asked her to define the word first.

[@patriotpatriarch7797]

She’s getting props from demon rats, because she is one.

[@princeofthereptiles4422]

that was a masterpiece in journalism

[@Esoteric456]

You can dislike O'Reilly and trust me I am no fan. I think it's fair to say though that Hoover did ambush him. She was on his show for 4 or 5 years and he treated her with respect, according to her. Given the fact that that's the first hand knowledge that she has, it's not cool of her to question him in an aggressive fashion regarding things that weren't part of her experience. People wrongly assume that just because you're a big dog in a company that you're immune to policy, that is not the case. It is perfectly possible and reasonable that O'Reilly had no idea what fox did regarding the settlements.

[@jayhays8267]

They should change the name of the show to "Firing Squad"!

[@SmokinAce495]

the flame thrower

[@angelgarza2215]

The “me too” activist

[@thomasgalvin4069]

Great job by Margaret Hoover. Not easy, but got it right.

[@TerryHofman]

Wow 😮 Good job Margaret!

[@charlesfranklinlambeth3944]

That’s it? I’m completely disappointed, not in the questions which were excellent but rather in both the interviewer and interviewee’s seemingly narrow scope of topics broached. This is Margaret Hoover and she has nothing else to ask Bill O’Reilly…and Bill O’Reilly has nothing else to address? Come on…I expected more from you both.

[@charlesunderwood8339]

Poor O"Rielly. He is such a victim. Good Job MS. Hoover.

[@gejost]

He couldn't answer honestly even if he wanted to without a risk of legal repercussions

[@lindaflesch7303]

Aren't they all? Victims I mean.

[@bbdog141414]

When do they interview Bill Clinton? Still waiting for that. Oh, wait……..

[@MRBurnett]

Why because meg not ask tough questions

[@actownsend7288]

I’d love to see that myself.

[@lindaflesch7303]

​@@actownsend7288 TRUMP too?

[@mab2112]

Is he going to "do it live"?

[@debbiemetke5938]

ha ha. Yes, I get it and remember

[@SHowland114]

Her last question was ridiculous. Clearly Bill does not believe the women who brought the accusations against him were doing so in earnest. If so then he has little to no interest in their ability to continue on in news media, settlement or not. And Ms. Hoover continues as if Bill should say “Yes! Of course the women who accused me of harassment, accusations I believe to be false, should get high paying prominent jobs in the media.” She never, and artfully avoided, addressing the fact she had spent quite a bit of time on Fox News with Bill and that she never experienced what was claimed but rather she referred to a “culture”. Some nebulous culture that she push came to shove would have not have associated O’Reilly of being a part of but once he was fired she was happy to write for the New York Times and article commemorating the occasion. When O’Reilly confronted her she never claimed to have known any details about the law suits that led to his firing but tried to move on to “well I knew about the culture so therefore I had authority to write!” Bill would give himself a failing grade on this interview but she was horrible and I’d like her to talk about her authentic experiences with Bill and not the “culture” of a Fox and how bills issues fit into that narrative soooo ipso facto Bill is guilty.

[@joanwernick6359]

Margaret, You are a rock star!!!! I watch you every week even though I am not quite your demographic. I am an Independent Progress middle of the roaderer. You asked him a very good question as to why men like him get to go on in journalism and the women they harass and have to pay out millions of dollars to are sidelined. Every women in your audience thinks it is a good question. He is a coward and let me tell you, his chapter about your great grandfather was full of swiss cheese holes and he pushed the sloppy fact checking away as if to say it is not important!!! Your great grandfather was a great president who took the fall for the depression and his accomplishments were lost in the shuffle. I know that and so do many others. I also knew he was an engineer something I learned many years ago in history class!! O'Reilly is not a historiam. He is entertainer who hates it when someone refused to be bullied like you. He's just like Trump and all the other bullies . You Go girl and keep doing your remarkable job week after week. My husband and I are HUGE fans.

[@michaelgrooney]

Doesn’t that make you dislike republicans so much? It’s such a tired and predictable diatribe… can we be adults and discuss adult topics with adult discussion?!

[@MrLinkster7]

Why does he not care about facts being straight up wrong in his book? He concedes that that there are in fact false statements in the book, but brushes past it. Like he admitted to publishing lies. Seems like a fraudster that's just out for a paycheck. And then he goes on to say he only deals in facts when he 5 min earlier said he doesn't care about he facts in his book being wrong.

[@tripp8833]

Damn. Margaret hoover is a great interviewer.

[@hurtnem76]

I don’t even know why he would waste his time to come on a show like this . Nobody knows who this woman is or even heard of this show before . She’s terrible ! No wonder why she’s on PBS

[@Seekthetruth3000]

Wherever O'Reilly goes, high ratings follow.

[@lindaflesch7303]

Not anymore

[@michaelmurphy1224]

​@lindaflesch7303 No Spin News is the highest rated non cable news show. He has more viewers than all of the cable shows combined. Why are you stupid?

[@nikita-dh5je]

@@michaelmurphy1224Had to laugh when O’Reilly complained about ambush interview , he was the king of ambush interviews at Fox, sending his stooge Jesse Watters to ambush people constantly, one time even endangered a reporter’s life by following her around while she was driving. O’Reilly now complaining about ambush interview that’s rich!

[@deanbodishowpodcast9437]

🔥🔥

[@jromedj22]

And this shows the reason why we all despite him

[@yeshua64]

Billy is MAGAt

[@jromedj22]

He literally said you know she was going to bring her settlements, but then said she's doing an ambush interview. Oh somebody got their feelings hurt 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@GetMeThere1]

I do like a lot of the information and analysis O'Reilly supplies. But, lol, he's a terrible bully. He'd do much better if he could get over himself. Just recently he talked contemptuously about how Trump was "baited" in the debate, lol, when nobody baits more easily than O'Reilly himself.

[@belindanorton8970]

Wow! You go talented woman!

[@tripp8833]

Looks like he was about to cry LOL

[@phillanager6245]

Mr know-it-all. Glad he's washed up and gone.

[@silencercat1]

He's so into facts. Except when he is not.

[@lindaflesch7303]

Despicable.

[@financesage]

Good lord that was uncomfortable. She clearly knows more about Hoover than he does and he sounds like Biden.

[@BurieRadney]

This is why I don't support PBS, pure DNC.

[@AngelsPath]

Yep, Bill has not changed. Still a huge A hole. I literally felt terrible for the nasty way he treated and tried to intimidate a very fair and decent Margaret. Keep your head up girl. You did well.

[@jps0117]

Well, that went well.

[@matthewghardy]

O'Reilly was not having it at the end. And rightfully so. She wouldn't back off.

[@Prismer6]

Because he doesn't have the courage or decency to admit he settled sexual harassments lawsuits. And then tells her she needs to ask fact-based questions.

[@Arcwol]

I knew you were going to do this ambush. 🤣🤣🤣 Make it make sense, please.

[@luisvidales6837]

Mrs. Hoover I always look forward to my Friday PBS Programs like yours, you have Big Balls asking the questions you asked at the end of the Mr. O’Reilly interview and credit to him as well for not running. Thank you both!!

[@erniedavis3117]

Margaret That was fantastic -you had it back in the Fox clips and care and respect plus brutal clarity with Bill was awesome, thanks for the report

[@BonesMcoy]

He’s just there to grift his new book. “Do have anything else about History or the book?” And then when he gets called out says “you’re wrong and that’s it.” After he told her that she has no idea what she’s talking about (she knows what she’s talking about).

[@buff_n_lu]

She is a hack.

[@Gryphind0r]

Ax PBS from the budget, i dont my money going to this bias drivel.

[@teepee431]

Hoover was a dud grand father, Sorry.

[@fatjohnnydepp]

PBS is so pathetic……😂

[@rboltt]

Right wing vampires always turn to dust in the sunlight.

[@ncvman]

25:31 is the best. Ha ha. He’s like I’m out.

[@angelgarza2215]

I would have left too and only because we all know she would never confront Joe Biden like that for his SA of Tara Reade. I would have politely said “The day you confront Biden on his SA and grill him on it nonstop with details on what she accused him of. That would be the day i will answer that question”

[@Arcwol]

20:40 Okay, come on then, enlighten her. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jkotsche7035]

Yes, Margaret you know more about your great grandfather than I do, but I wrote my version 🤥of history about him anyway. Oh come on, you don't know who the TV character Ted Baxter is/was, so disappointing. 😁 As much as I can't stand B.O., I wish it was a longer show. B.O. wimped out.

[@debbiemetke5938]

She is young enough to not know who Ted Baxter is. I'm old enough but didn't really watch the show.

[@fleur2555]

Why? It was disappointing at best.

[@jasonhasch]

Great job, Margaret!!!

[@DanCorkery-s6g]

Good journalism 😮

[@crazyangst12]

Well... That was interesting. O'Reilly is still a pompous ass as he was when I first saw him in high school but in half of the interview he was not wrong about what he answer. I do find it hypocritical that he would call this an ambush interview when he said twice that he knew they would ask him about the lawsuit and settlement. Margaret Hoover seemed to start off well but slipped a bit as he seemed to own the conversation especially when it involves shutting down the ones he didn't like. Though one thing I would ask him is why does he seem to not care as much about the youths that would help future generation, if he agrees that how this country isn't going the way he would like it to go to, I guess that's why he's independent to show he doesn't care anymore.

[@lyndat6989]

Why are we paying her salary? She distorted facts and set him up as a villain so she could be a champion of women. Are we fellow women supposed to applaud her? I’m just embarrassed for her.

[@SeekerGoOn2013]

You don’t know how journalistic interviews work.

[@lindaflesch7303]

He's a predator.

[@michaelmurphy1224]

​@@lindaflesch7303you got facts?? Don't believe all women...they're mostly nuts.

[@rishigupta1738]

Excellent interview Margaret. You go gurl!

[@tomfoolery7438]

Never heard of this woman before today but I bet there will be new videos in the future of her crying about how this interview ruined her life. Bill Oreilly didn’t even give her a chance to recover, it was just body shot after body shot. She was so flustered she delivered her closing sentence twice and the second time he let her stew in awkward silence. This is why Bill Oreilly is a master at his craft. Awesome response to an amateur journalist.

[@jps0117]

Never heard of her? Amateur journalist? Flustered?! Are you kidding me? It was Bill who was flustered. I've watched scores of her interviews and never has a guest been so defensive. Margaret doesn't need you or me. She's been around for quite a while and is an excellent interviewer. Maybe you should visit wikipedia to start.

[@MuppetCore]

Interview starts off with grousing about Pres. Hoover, widely viewed as one of our worst presidents, but sticking up for her family, I guess, like anyone cares. And then it ends not with questions, but an ambush and speeches and lectures about legal stuff O’Reilly ain’t gonna talk about. So not an interview about politics and current events, but just settling a personal score with O’Reilly. And the Rush Limbaugh clip was just an excuse to air old Buckley material. Just because you have the right to Buckley’s IP don’t make you Bill Buckley. It’s like if Colbert still did Stupid Pet Tricks. I like Hoover enough, beautiful woman (it must be said), but this was a disappointment.

[@seanbramble]

I just flat out love Firing Line

[@toddchatterly9310]

lol. lmao.

[@carpo719]

Asking the "hard questions " means lrss and less these days

[@AS-tn6ev]

Showin us the way😊. Thanks for that…

[@user-cw3bo6vw3n]

Really kind of embarrassing how she couldn't get past personal stuff to be professional. I think she thought she was embarrassing O'Reilley, but she really embarrassed herself. She was trying to bully him into saying what she wanted, instead of asking him what he felt about a subject. Very bizarre.

[@SeekerGoOn2013]

What interview were you watching? Apparently not the one everyone else did.

[@michaelmurphy1224]

​@@SeekerGoOn2013Saw the same thing...Hoover is a hack like her Great Grandfather

[@anthonyvasquez486]

EGO! HAA!

[@amuncat1]

This is unprofessional and a GREAT discredit to her profession!!!! Shallow and cheap!!! She's contributed to the complete downfall and discrediting to her profession!!!

[@SeekerGoOn2013]

You’re on a different planet.

[@deniseomeara4266]

She won’t back down. ❤

[@supremeteam8969]

Bill is a real G

[@lindaflesch7303]

Gonad?

[@nikita-dh5je]

@@lindaflesch7303Gentleman??

[@TerryYelmene]

two disappointing dommenters

[@Fister-kw5un]

Imagine the outrage if Bill asked about her sex life. Double standard.

[@debbiemetke5938]

She didn't molest anybody. Come on

[@blessedANDunimpressed]

A sex life is much different than legal proceedings regarding his reprehensible behavior toward women. He’s a predator.

[@MarkCampbell-hj5fe]

​@@blessedANDunimpressed Agreed. He's caused way more problems than he's solved. Such a huge part of the " hate" culture of today.

[@Seekthetruth3000]

@@MarkCampbell-hj5fe How about the folks on the left like MSNBC, the View...etc.?

[@MarkCampbell-hj5fe]

@@Seekthetruth3000 none of those shows have had anyone as hateful as O'Reilly! He's just a real POS! I'll admit the left has had to get tougher as a response to these haters.