Hi Lucy-
I live in northern Virginia, near DC.
I think there's a certain misconception about O'Reilly and probably the entire Fox News Channel. In my view, it's one of the few channels worth watching, which no doubt explains why it blows away all the other cable shows in terms of ratings.
Anyway, obviously the producers of the show are aware that the subject of NDEs would draw a big audience.
Also, I think having Dr. Long on indicated O'Reilly's personal interest and belief in the afterlife. If O'Reilly thought the topic or the author was bogus, he would have torn him a new one. And would have done it with relish!
Even though he correctly said that the book was essentially anecdotal and therefore not proof of anything, he was nevertheless receptive to the concept.
Chances are, if you were to ask him his own personal opinion, he would say he's a believer.
Obviously he couldn't go ga-ga over the existence of NDEs, that's better left to Oprah.
R