Bulwark Takes: Episode Summary – "Bill Maher Is Getting Played By 'Nice' Trump"
Release Date: April 14, 2025
Host/Author: The Bulwark
Title: Bill Maher Is Getting Played By "Nice" Trump
Introduction: Bill Maher’s Interaction with Donald Trump
In this episode of Bulwark Takes, hosts JVL and Sarah Longwell delve into recent high-profile interactions between media personalities and former President Donald Trump. The discussion opens with a focus on comedian and host Bill Maher's recent dinner meeting with Trump, which has sparked significant debate.
Notable Quote:
- JVL [00:00]: "We had Bill Maher coming on his show and talking about his very nice and cordial dinner with Donald Trump and how he now knows the real man behind the tweets."
Bill Maher’s Contradictory Stance on Trump
Bill Maher shared his experience of dining with Trump, expressing surprise at the stark contrast between Trump's public persona on social media and his private demeanor. Maher described Trump as "a totally normal guy" during the dinner, which contrasts sharply with his often harsh public rhetoric.
Notable Quotes:
- Bill Maher [00:39]: "A crazy person doesn't live in the White House. A person who plays a crazy person on TV a lot lives there, which I know is fucked up."
- JVL [01:54]: "What do you think, Sarah?"
- Sarah Longwell [02:15]: "White supremacist Nick Fuentes... also had dinner with Donald Trump."
Sarah Longwell criticizes Maher by highlighting that another controversial figure, Nick Fuentes, also praised Trump after a dinner meeting. She argues that Trump's ability to charm and flatter individuals like Maher and Fuentes allows him to manipulate perceptions and normalize his presence among the elite.
Notable Quote:
- Sarah Longwell [02:46]: "Donald Trump uses the narcissism of others as a weapon... he has been able to sort of master the elite class in this country."
The Complexity of Evaluating Trump’s Character
The hosts explore the difficulty in assessing Trump's true character based solely on private interactions versus public actions. Sarah emphasizes that personal dinners do not negate Trump's broader impact and the critiques levied against him.
Notable Quote:
- Sarah Longwell [07:17]: "Donald Trump is using you to normalize him. And just because you get to be in the presence of him does not erase your earlier critiques."
Trump’s Legal Actions Against Media Outlets
Transitioning to Trump’s legal maneuvers, the discussion shifts to his ongoing lawsuit against 60 Minutes, CBS, and Paramount. Trump alleges fraudulent reporting and seeks substantial fines and punishment, citing a perceived bias in media coverage.
Notable Quote:
- JVL [12:24]: "60 Minutes... mentions the name Trump, all caps in a derogatory and defamatory way... They should lose their license."
Sarah Longwell connects Trump’s lawsuits to broader issues within the media industry, particularly mergers and acquisitions, suggesting that media companies capitulate to Trump to secure business deals.
Notable Quote:
- Sarah Longwell [14:22]: "They decide that in order for them to pursue these business endeavors that they must capitulate to Trump and give him protection money."
Free Speech Concerns and Social Media Dynamics
The conversation then turns to the concept of free speech, particularly in the context of social media platforms like Twitter. The hosts discuss how the removal of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives on Twitter under Elon Musk's ownership has led to a surge in harmful content.
Notable Quotes:
- JVL [16:50]: "Mark Zuckerberg said that he was going to become... someone to really work with Donald Trump... make free speech great again."
- Sarah Longwell [17:31]: "The amount of really racist stuff in the for you feed... if I saw one of them and clicked on it, it just keeps giving you more."
They criticize the backlash against DEI policies, arguing that their removal has allowed a resurgence of extremist and misogynistic content, exemplified by figures like Matt Walsh from The Daily Wire.
Notable Quote:
- Sarah Longwell [20:44]: "Matt Walsh... his shtick is just being like super misogynistic... criticizing someone who has served his country."
The Impact of DEI and Woke Culture
JVL and Sarah discuss the unintended consequences of dismantling DEI initiatives, suggesting that while DEI may have had its flaws, its removal has exacerbated societal issues by allowing discriminatory and extremist ideologies to flourish unchecked.
Notable Quotes:
- JVL [19:48]: "It turns out that woke DEI existed for a reason because there was a lot of terrible stuff happening."
- Sarah Longwell [23:05]: "I just don't think that was the best corrective to what are some terrible human impulses."
Conclusion: The Ongoing Struggle with Media and Cultural Norms
The episode concludes with a reflection on the current state of American media and culture. The hosts express frustration with how figures like Bill Maher and Matt Walsh interact with Trump and the broader implications for free speech and societal norms. They underline the challenge of maintaining critical perspectives in an environment where personal interactions can distort public perception.
Notable Quotes:
- JVL [23:34]: "Woke deis are still terrible, Sarah."
- Sarah Longwell [23:31]: "I just want individuals like Matt Walsh to feel some modicum of embarrassment or shame being somebody who's never served his country and criticizing someone who has."
This episode of Bulwark Takes offers a critical examination of the interplay between media personalities and Donald Trump, highlighting the complexities of personal interactions, media influence, and the ongoing debates surrounding free speech and cultural policies in the United States.