Bill Maher, the revered—and often reviled—political commentator, comedian, and host of the Club Random podcast and Real Time with Bill Maher, goes head to head with Lovett over wokeism, government fraud, and trans rights. A self-described liberal, Maher’s been hating on Democrats since before Joe Biden made it cool. He and Lovett debate whether Democrats have changed too much, the discourse around Israel and Gaza, and who should have a say over gender-affirming care. Is Maher peddling the right's propaganda, or is this the tough love Democrats need to face Trump 2.0? For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
Chapter 1: What can therapy teach us about relationship green flags?
This show is sponsored by BetterHelp. What are some relationship green flags? Those are positive actions or traits in your partner and loved ones. We hear about red flags often that we should avoid. What do we focus more on looking for green flags in friends and partners?
If you're not sure what they look like, therapy is there to help you identify green flags, actively practice them in your relationships, and embody the green flag energy in yourself. Whether you're dating, married, building a friendship, or just working on yourself, it's time to form relationships that love you back. Hey, Tommy?
Mm-hmm.
What are some of my green flags to you?
Boundless enthusiasm. Sure. Hilarious. Wow. Whip smart. This sucks. Sick body. Oh, wow. Great hair.
Sick body. Great hair. The hair I bought. There is a doctor that gets a green flag for the hair. Well, Tommy, I just really like the cut of your jib. Better help. It's fully online. It's helpful for learning positive coping skills, how to set boundaries, and empowers you to be the best version of yourself. It isn't just for those who've experienced trauma. It's true.
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Visit betterhelp.com slash PSA to get 10% off your first month. That's betterhelp, H-E-L-P, dot com slash PSA. Welcome to Pond Save America. I'm John Lovett. We're up and running with our Sunday shows. These episodes are going to be coming out every other weekend. We'll give John, Tommy, Dan and me a chance to have deeper conversations with a range of interesting people.
My guest this week is television host, political commentator and stand up comedian Bill Maher. Welcome, Bill.
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Chapter 2: How does Bill Maher view land acknowledgments?
Q-U-I-N-C-E dot com slash crooked to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com slash crooked. On to the politics. You brought it up. I did bring it up. And I know that. And everyone's hearing. They know that. They know that I brought it up.
People like this. They like people. They're like politics schmolitics. Yeah. We're keeping it loose. We're keeping it loose. It's Bill. We don't have to like fucking always be. And we can go right to the politics. Because that's what I love about podcasting.
Yeah. We can do whatever we want.
Look at all the cards you have there. Do we have to get through all those before I can go? No, I'll skip. Hey, don't worry. We'll skip through some. Because that's a lot of cards.
Let's see.
There's one later that just says trans. Your staff makes these for you?
Yes, they do. They do a great job. They're right over there. It's a great team. It's a great team. So let's talk about how the Republicans have changed. You said in your special, Trump got the White House again, but he's not going to get your mind.
How's that resolution holding up? Not that well. I also said I wouldn't pre-hate anything, which is true. I didn't pre-hate, but boy, does the hate come around quickly. I mean, has it been only a month? It's been one month. One month. One month. I mean, I didn't think it could, some of the things, and there are things that, other things, I made a list. Like, here's what I already hate.
Here's things I don't hate yet. I can, I mean, there are things that, like, the idea that Gaza could be Dubai instead of, you know, this hellhole that it's been. Other people have suggested that. By way of us taking it over? No way. You know, starting a new American empire. No. This insanity of of Zelensky is the dictator. Outrageous.
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Chapter 3: What was the impact of Politically Incorrect on television debates?
to a different place. There's always been a center, a center left, and a left. That's always been the case. There were things that the Vietnam protesters said that was anathema to what was mainstream for Democrats at the time. But put aside the specific of the issue. Joe Biden was for a two-state solution. Kamala Harris was for a two-state solution.
Most mainstream Democrats are for a two-state solution. Donald Trump has embraced Benjamin Netanyahu and no two-state solution, no deal on the table.
I agree, but that's not what we were talking about. But what I'm trying to understand is- To always bring in Trump. I'm not trying to bring in Trump. We're going to agree that we don't like Trump. I didn't vote for him. Asked and answered. Asked and answered. But my question is- But you're not addressing the question that you find more difficult to answer, which is what I put to you.
It's like the woke position, and it's, again, not just kids on campus. I could quote you things from like, do you know who PEN is? The organization P-E-N? They had to withdraw an invitation, right? That's the- It's a free speech organization that doesn't understand free speech. Same with the ACLU in some cases.
So, Pod Save America, I've taken a lot of shit for what I've said about Israel, my belief in a two-state solution, my horror at what Benjamin Netanyahu has done, but my belief that we ought to be critical of Israel, not just because of what it has done in Gaza, and not just what it has done to the Palestinians, but because it is not in the interest of Israel.
to create the conditions that they're creating. I am not what you would call woke on this topic. More woke than me. But not what elected Democrats are saying, which I think represent the people that would ultimately be wielding
So, like, what are the, like, are there issues where you see, like, the mainstream Democrats, elected figures, not people on college campuses or organizations that have moved left because they're captured by whatever lefty part of their staff or whatever?
is generally not a crazy person. If you're talking about crazies, I used to say the difference between the parties is that the Republicans have found a place for their crazies. Unfortunately, that place is elected government. And it's kind of true. Like there's no equivalent quite of Marjorie Taylor Greene on the left.
Although there are people like Elon Omar and AOC who I don't agree with on a lot of stuff and I think are crazy on a lot of stuff and say things that are real eye rolls. Fair enough. I don't agree with that. But I just don't. I'm not saying they're, I just said they're not as bad, but they are eye rolly. Absolutely. There are things you disagree with.
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