Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis - No Spin Special: The Race to Replace George Santos

Episode Date: February 4, 2024

With the demise of former New York Congressman George Santos, a Republican, two new candidates are vying to replace the disgraced politician. Republican Mazi Pilip and Democrat Tom Suozzi are engaged in a close race culminating on Feb. 13 in a special election, with the eventual winner representing New York's 3rd Congressional District in the House. Bill O'Reilly lives in that district, vowing not to let another grifter like Santos sneak his vote away again; he interviews both candidates, vetting them with No Spin. Listen as they are asked important questions that not only New Yorkers but the American public care about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George Santos. Oh, boy. And this is partially my fault, and I've said this before on the No Spin News. So he's my congressman or was before he got booted out. Okay? And I voted for George Santos because I really voted against his opponent, Robert Zimmerman, a Democrat, who is a very liberal man, far too liberal for my district on Long Island. Santos wins.

I didn't vet Santos. I don't have time to vet Congressman, but he was my congressman, though I should have vetted him myself. But I didn't. That's my fault, and I apologize for that. Now, Santos is criminally charged. Conspiracy, wire fraud, false statements, falsifying records, aggravated. identity theft, on and on and on.

23 fraud-related charges, federal charges. Santos will be convicted. He will do time. So that seat is empty. I don't have a congressman right now. But on Tuesday, February 13th, there is a special election. And it features Republican Maisie Pillop against Democrat Tom Swazzi. You know, Swazzi's name may be familiar because he served six years in Congress previously.

He attended the same high school I attended. I know Mr. Swazi fairly well, and he joins us now from New York City. Thanks for coming on. I know probably your advisors told you not to. The lead was accurate. You got that one right, Bill. You got that one, right? Oh, don't you, O'Reilly? He's a nasty guy. First question. Hunter Biden today, do you think he should be charged with contempt Congress? I didn't follow the whole thing today. Come on. Do you think he should be charged? You know the case. The bottom line is I think that Hunter Biden has broken a lot of rules and he has to be held accountable. I don't think, I think a big problem in our country right now

is that nobody's following the rules. I don't think that President Trump has been following the rules. Santos didn't follow the rules. The shoplifters aren't following the rules. The people crossing the border aren't following the rules. And Hunter Biden hasn't followed the rules. Okay. So the people who don't follow the rules have to be held accountable. And I'm with you 100% on that, Suzzi.

But there's going to be a vote in Congress. And all of the Democrats seated are going to vote not to charge Hunter Biden. So say you win and you are my congressman, are you going to vote not to charge him? As a practical matter, I have not even looked at. at this case at all related to Hunter Biden. Come on, you're dodging me. You're dodging me. Come on.

I'm not paying attention to the immigration crisis. You just said he's not following the rules. I'm paying attention to salt. I'm paying attention to the issues that affect my residents. My residents, though, aren't following Hunter Bidens. All right. People are not going to like that answer. I'll tell you right now, Congressman, not going to like it.

Anybody who doesn't follow the rules, and I have a place to hold them accountable, I will hold them accountable. Okay, then I'm going to put that down as a question. as you're going to vote. I don't hold, I don't know the facts of, well, Hunter Biden's subpoena by Congress. Call me after the show and I'll give you five minutes and I'll fill you in. You shouldn't all. I know that he had a major drug problem.

I know there's an accusation. That's nothing to do with it. That's nothing to do with it. The griff that he pulled off to the tune of more than $20 million is under, he's under federal charges, which you'll answer later this week. And now he doesn't suffer deposition. Right? We're not paying taxes.

And now he wants it for deposition in front of Congress. You can't do that. All right, let's move on. There was something about how he showed up and he wanted to be public and they wanted to be private. I don't, I really don't know the facts. Okay, but you should. Now, I have voted for you in the past.

I know that it's embarrassing. Or I don't want you to use it in a TV commercial because Peter King is mad at you already for doing that. But I don't think that you're a loon. I don't think that you're a progressive loon. I've watched your career. I mean, Mayor Glenn Cove, I know. I know I know who you are, but the pressure in Congress, particularly the House, even though Nancy Pelosi is not the Speaker anymore, is so intense that the moderate Democrats disappear because if you go against the progressive orthodoxy, they isolate you.

And that's why people don't vote for moderate Democrats because they're afraid once you get in there, you're going to go along with the progressive loons. valid fear? I've been in public I've been in public life for a long time. And when I was in Congress, I was the vice chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus. 25 Democrats, 25 Republicans. We met every week to try and find common ground to try and get things done. Newsday

just did a front page story about me and my opponent, and they said about Tom Swazi during his career, he's he's hewed to the center lane. They said that I was in the top 15% of bipartisan members of Congress. And that's true.

that all you don't have to convince me and remember i'm going to vote and i'm a constituent that's true but once you get in there i was in there i was in there i can't think the pressure on you will be immense to go along with the biden administration i know you don't believe in an open border i know you don't i certainly don't go are you going up against are you going to go up against Biden? I sent a letter to the president the other day and said that we have to make a deal on the border, that we have to secure the border and treat people like human beings. I wrote an op-ed piece with Peter King that the New York Times printed, and they gave it the headline, the grand compromise that talked about securing the border, generating fees from people

that would generate $10 billion. Five billion go to the Republicans, $5 billion go to the Democrats. They want to build a wall. The Democrats want to do a radar. and more immigration judges and more processing make a deal we've been fighting about this since ronald reagan we have not addressed the border or immigration in a comprehensive way all right but in order to make that deal in order to make that deal you're going to have to go up against but i think i've always done that Biden will make the deal because baroque obama told him to and i talk about that on the hannery radio show i'll know i'll probably do it tomorrow on this broadcast but i want to get a little bit more information all right now the bottom line is bill you

you follow you followed me i've stood up to my own party when i thought they were wrong on many cases i ran for governor of new york twice i got my butt kicked both times because i wasn't why is that why did you lose to hokal who obviously is under uh the spell of the progressives and hundreds of thousands of new yorkers are leaving the state why do you think you lost to her i thought you had i lost to her for the same i lost to her for the same reason i lost to elliott's I just wasn't progressive enough for a primary. Why don't you switch parties then? Why don't you become a Republican?

What do you want to deal with these mad people, these crazy people? Nobody likes to think, first of all. I'm not going to switch after this stage in my career. Let me just say this very clearly. The far right controls the Republican primaries. The far left controls the Democratic primaries. That's what's wrong with our country. The people want us to sit down and make deals

and get things done to actually address the problems that they face. They're sick and tired of all the finger pointing and all the fighting and everybody just yelling at each other. There are real problems that we are facing in our country and our world. And we are not going to solve these complicated problems unless reasonable people are willing to sit down across from the table from each other and say, I disagree with you this. I disagree with you on that. But I think I can agree with you on this and try and find common ground. That's what I've done my whole year. Well, I'm going to, if you win, obviously I'm going to follow everything you do because that's my.

district. And I appreciate you going up against your advisors and coming on the no spin news. And, you know, it's going to be an interesting run. Because as you know, I'll be curious to see if my opponent comes on. She's ducked every debate. She's already. She's coming on a week from today. I'm watching that show because I want to see what she says because nobody knows what she stands for. I'm so charismatic. She's registered as a Democrat. She's registered as a Democrat. She's registered as a Democrat. And now she's run as a Republican. And we're going to absolutely. You won't say who she voted for for president. I'm going to give her the same kind of interview I gave her. But I'm so charismatic, very few people can turn me down. Only the real crazy

fearful people. So Ms. Pillup running against you on a Republican ticket will be here a week from today. All right, Tom, thanks very much. We appreciate it. Good luck. Thanks for the time. Let's face it, the U.S. economy is under stress. National debt rising, trade war, shaking the markets. And meanwhile, China is dumping the dollar and stockpiling gold. That's why I protected my savings with physical gold and silver through the only dealer I trust, American Hartford Gold. And you can do this. Get precious metals delivered to your door.

Or place in a tax advantage, gold IRA. They'll even help you roll over your existing IRA or 401k, tax and penalty-free. With billions in precious metals delivered thousands of five-star reviews and an A-plus from the Better Business Bureau, you can trust American Hartford Gold as I do. Please call 866-326-55-7576 or text bill to 99-8899. Again, that's 866-326-5576-5576 or text bill to 998899. Hey, I'm Caitlin Becker, the host of the New York Postcast, and I've got exactly what you need to start your weekdays. Every morning, I'll bring you the stories that matter, plus the news people actually talk about,

the juicy details in the worlds of politics, business, pop culture, and everything in between. It's what you want from the New York Post wrapped up in one snappy show. Ask your smart speaker to play the NY Postcast podcast. Listen and subscribe on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Her name is Mazzie Pilup. I think I'm saying that correctly. 44 years old, born in Ethiopia, into poverty. She was part of the amazing Operation Solomon in 1991, where the state of

Israel repatriated at Israel's expense, Ethiopian Jews moved them to Israel to live. 14,000 of them. And Ms. Epilip was part of that crew. So she was raised in Israel, became a member of the defense force, because all people do have to serve in Israel. And in 2005, she emigrated to the United States legally. settled in Great Neck, New York on the North Shore of Long Island.

Her husband is a cardiologist. She has seven children. Okay? So she is running against Tom Swazi, who we had on this broadcast last week. He's a Democrat, and Ms. Pillop is the Republican. She joins us now from Westbury, Long Island, where I went to St. Bridget's School.

I know it well. First question, and we appreciate you taking the time to come on. Why did you switch from being a Democrat to a Republican? Hi, Bill. Nice to be in your show. Very simple. When I came to this country, like other immigrants, I registered as a Democrat. But with the years, the Democratic Party left me and so many others.

And I saw that the Republican Party sharing the same values. that I have. Therefore, I have been Republican. I got elected about two years ago as a county legislator as a Republican, and I got re-elected about

two months ago for the same seats for the county legislative seats. All right. Give me one example of a value that Republicans have, the Democrats don't, that influence your thinking to change. Yeah. The Republican

Party care about this country, and I care about this country. My husband and I immigrated to this country. We are living the American dream. We own this country. The Republican Party want to secure our country, our borders, and as a mother of seven children, I care about the future of our children. And as a mother, as a parent, you always worry about your children. I don't have to tell you the amount of illegal immigrants coming to this country,

and the amount of drugs coming from the borders. I am afraid. I'm afraid, you know, they're going to find themselves but doing things with crime and drugs. The Republican Party wants to secure our borders, and I support that. And the Republican Party want to support our law enforcement. I salute for that.

As a person who grew up in Ethiopia, when law enforcement wasn't existing my time, I want to make sure my children growing in this beautiful country with strong law enforcement. Those are, you know, the issues that are related with the Republican Party. A Republican Party is all about work hard. You can accomplish anything you want.

They want to improve our economy. I am an example of an immigrant. Right. Yeah. Certainly you are an example and a good one of someone who came to this country legally and has contributed to the country. And I think Tom Swazzi would agree with that, your opponent. who I've known for decades.

Israel, do you think they're handling this fight against Hamas correctly? Israel? Yes. Yes, absolutely correctly. Israel was viciously attacked by a terrorist organization on October 7, that we also, what happened to civilians, and babies, children, elderly, got killed viciously by this. terrorist organization. My family member still live in Israel. I was a soldier. I feel the pain.

It was shocking for me to see the vicious attack of Hamas on Israel. And Hamas is the one who broke the ceasefire. Hamas who started this war, and Israel has the obligation to protect his civilians. So Israel is doing great. And there's not other choice. We just have to make sure Hamas not going to be able to exist ever again. Okay, the expense of that, though, is innocent civilians, people with nothing. Yeah. They're killed, killed and displaced and, you know, that's war. We know that. But there are arguments that Israel might be more tactical

in the way it confronts Hamas, tries to destroy Hamas, to try to limit the civilian damage. How do you reply to that? Very simple. As a soldier who's serving the Israeli army, I can tell you, Israel don't want to kill civilians. It has been clear for years, for years Israel trying to prevent, avoid this. Unfortunately, this terrorist organization using his own people, civilian, as human shield. Do you feel bad for those, though? The people have no power there?

Because I feel bad for them, but I understand what Hamas is doing. Everybody understands what Hamas is doing. I absolutely felt bad, of course. I'm a mother. I feel the pain. But look what happened on the other side. They all leaders, the all leaders putting their people live in the front. They don't care.

For them, is anything they can use to destroy Israel, they will use it. You know, every time Israel, before they're attacking, they're sending letters in Arabic writing, please leave the building. Please leave the building. We are about to attack. Give me an army that in the world that acting the way Israeli army is acting. Trying to do everything in their power to prevent civilian casualty every time. But when you are dealing with a terrorist organization like Hamas,

unfortunately civilians will continue to suffer and the best things for them to happen for Hamas to go away so finally the Palestinian people will have a normal life right now you know they are not going to have this bill up they're not going to go away they're going to always be there you have to degrade them

like we did with ISIS and al-Qaeda but they're going away. Final question for you New York State obviously been good to you I know where you live you live in a nice area and people over there are very aware. A lot of immigrants where you live in Great Neck. But hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, mostly hardworking taxpaying people, leaving this state, getting out of here, it's going to get worse and worse and worse. Why do you think that's happening? It is unfortunate. Unfortunately, extreme

policies in New York really keep taking away the quality of life of so many people here in New York. And I don't blame the one who's living. Think about this. We have immigrants who are coming from the borders without anybody's checking if they are dealing with drugs, bringing drugs, if they are terrorists, we don't have the criminals. We don't know nothing. They're coming in. Okay. And then we also have a deep funding the police movement that taking away every power is possible from enforcement, a total chaos. Parents, people very worry about their safety. And it makes sense. Of course, I'm going to be, I'm going to be worried about my safety and my children's safety if the governor and the people we elected is not there to protect us. Instead of being tough

on crime, they are, you know, go ahead, sorry. Yeah, you got the crazy taxes on top of it. I mean, yesterday, I'm sure you know this, the budget was passed. Kathy Cole of the Governor's budget has passed, and there's another $3 billion for just New York to pay for the welfare of the migrants. Well, where are that money coming from? We already have a deficit. That means they get a pile on more tax to more tax, the more tax, the more tax, to more tax, and that's another reason people are gone.

Exactly. They keep hurting the middle-class families. And that is a big problem. Absolutely brutal. Ms. Philip, we wish you the best. We're going to follow the race very closely. You're welcome here anytime. If you want to talk to something about something,

it should be a very fascinating race in November. And if you win, I, you know, I want you to be nice to us here in the 3rd District because after that Santos rat, we need good representatives here. Okay. You write, Bill, February 13th is the election, and I'm very excited.

Thank you very much for having me. Sure, thanks for coming on. To watch the full episodes of the No Spin News, visit Bill O'Reilly.com and sign up to become a premium or concierge member. That's Bill O'Reilly.com. Sign up and start watching today.