Bill O’Reilly Slams JB Pritzker as “More Malevolent than Newsom,” Criticizes State of U.S. Media

New York, NY — Veteran broadcaster and conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly has launched a blistering critique of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, calling him “a destructive force” and accusing him of harboring “hatred for anyone who opposes him,” including former President Donald Trump. In a wide-ranging interview that also covered the decline of traditional media and the rise of political denialism, O’Reilly contrasted Pritzker with California Governor Gavin Newsom, saying the Illinois Democrat represents “a higher level” of ideological hostility.

“Newsom is an opportunist — he sold his soul for power,” O’Reilly said. “But he’s not totally irrational. You can have a conversation with Newsom. Pritzker, though, lives in hatred. He’s invested in it.”

According to O’Reilly, Pritzker’s leadership in Illinois has failed “across the board,” citing population decline, rising crime rates in Chicago, and what he called a refusal to cooperate with federal efforts to combat gang violence. He claimed that former President Trump had recently reached out to Pritzker to coordinate an anti-crime initiative involving federal and state law enforcement, but that the governor “gave him the finger.” O’Reilly argued that Pritzker’s alleged refusal was driven by partisanship rather than public safety. “Trump said, ‘Let’s flood the zone — you use the state, I’ll use the feds, we’ll wipe it out,’” O’Reilly said. “And Pritzker turned him down. Meanwhile, the carnage continues.”

O’Reilly accused the Illinois governor of ignoring widespread gang violence and drug trafficking. “He’s allowed this carnage to take place for six years,” O’Reilly said. “The drug gangs totally control those neighborhoods.” He added that the ongoing crisis has disproportionately affected African-American communities, saying that “about 80 percent of the 4,000 murders” in recent years were Black victims.

The host’s remarks echoed a broader conservative narrative portraying Democratic-led cities as centers of dysfunction. “Pritzker knows he’s failed,” O’Reilly said. “So now he’s lashing out — calling Trump Hitler, blaming everyone else. It’s denial. He lives there.”

Asked why Democratic leaders such as Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson continue to insist their cities are improving despite alarming statistics, O’Reilly blamed ideology. “They live in a world of denial,” he said. “They believe what they want to believe. They’ll never admit failure because it doesn’t fit the narrative.”

O’Reilly compared the situation in Chicago to that of Portland, Oregon, which he described as “ground zero” for anarchist activity. “They’ve got an Antifa base there,” he claimed. “They’re organized and some are being paid to stir up anarchy. But if you tell the governor of Oregon that, she’ll just say, ‘No, they’re not.’ It’s delusion.”

Beyond politics, O’Reilly reflected on how the media landscape has evolved since his departure from Fox News. Once one of the most-watched figures in cable television, O’Reilly said traditional broadcast and cable outlets are losing relevance to digital platforms. “It’s generational,” he explained. “If you’re over 70, you still sit down with a clicker at 8 p.m. to watch your favorite show. Below that age, almost nobody does.”

He argued that cable news is “boring” and has lost the intellectual tension that once defined it. “When I did The O’Reilly Factor, we were number one for 16 years,” he said. “I always told my producers, ‘Get the smartest person you can find to oppose me.’ That made it fun to watch.”

According to O’Reilly, modern television debates lack substance and diversity of thought. “Now it’s just people agreeing with each other,” he said. “After 20 minutes, you’re half asleep.” He lamented the disappearance of robust, civil confrontation, which he sees as vital to democratic discourse. “The nation is lesser because of this exclusion of opposing viewpoints,” he said. “It’s happening on both sides — right and left. The right keeps booking the same people every night, repeating the same lines.”

O’Reilly also accused mainstream outlets of practicing “ideological censorship,” claiming he’s been blacklisted from major programs despite being a best-selling author. “I’m the best-selling nonfiction author in the world, and I can’t get on CBS Sunday Morning,” he said. “That’s censorship. They know I’d bring ratings, but they don’t want dissenting voices.”

The former Fox anchor praised comedian Jon Stewart as one of the few remaining figures capable of sparking real debate but said even Stewart has softened. “Me and him had legendary debates — fabulous stuff,” O’Reilly said. “You don’t see him doing that much anymore. I give him jazz about it.”

O’Reilly concluded by expressing concern that both legacy and digital media now favor conformity over challenge. “All of the media — television and newspapers — have declined because they don’t seek opposing points of view,” he said. “They’re exclusionary.”

Still, he ended on a lighter note, recalling his mentorship of current Fox News host Jesse Watters, who began as his producer before launching his own show. “Watters is talented — the older women love him,” O’Reilly joked. “He’s been very respectful. If you come through me, you’re a Navy SEAL. You get through my boot camp, you’re going to do well.”

Despite his criticism of media and politics, O’Reilly insisted he remains optimistic about America’s resilience. “We work hard, and we’re very fortunate,” he said, thanking the interviewer before signing off.

O’Reilly’s comments, like much of his career, have drawn strong reactions. Supporters hailed him for “telling uncomfortable truths” about Democratic leadership and media hypocrisy, while detractors accused him of exaggerating and deflecting from systemic issues. Still, the interview underscored O’Reilly’s enduring influence on American political commentary — and his continued ability to stir debate in an era he believes has forgotten how to have one.