Ep. #694: Cheech Marin & Tommy Chong, Fmr. Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Kara Swisher

Summary

Real Time with Bill Maher – Episode #694 Summary

Podcast Information:

• Title: Real Time with Bill Maher
• Host: Bill Maher (HBO Podcasts)
• Guests: Cheech Marin & Tommy Chong, Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Kara Swisher
• Release Date: May 3, 2025

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1. Opening Monologue

Bill Maher kicks off the episode with his characteristic blend of humor and political critique. He touches upon the Trump administration's handling of Cinco de Mayo, highlighting Trump's disinterest in celebrating it traditionally:

"Or as the Trump administration calls it, May 5th. Yeah, well, Trump, he does not celebrate it too much. He's not a drinker." [01:57]

Maher delves into various Trump-related topics, including the controversial notion of "chemtrails," criticizing conspiracy theories and expressing his cynicism about the administration’s environmental policies:

"Believe what you want to believe. I really. We're all going to hell in a handcart anyway, if that makes you happy." [02:51]

He then transitions to assessing Trump’s first 100 days in office, presenting a series of economic downturns and declining approval ratings:

"The S&P500 down 7% since Trump took office. The value of the dollar is off 10%. The economy has shrunk for the first time in three years." [03:00]

Maher critiques Trump's tariff policies, predicting dire consequences for American consumers and businesses:

"And then what happens? They say soon the shelves at Walmart could be 90% bare." [03:50]

2. Conversation with Cheech Marin & Tommy Chong

Cheech and Chong's New Documentary: "Cheech and Chong's Last Movie"

Bill Maher welcomes the iconic comedic duo, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, discussing their latest documentary:

"Cheech and Chong are here. Oh, my God. Voice. Great to see you again, Rich. How are you, pal?" [06:58]

Key Discussion Points:

• Rock Star Lifestyle: Maher praises their transition from comedians to rock stars, noting their influence on the genre.

• Creative Differences: The conversation delves into the internal dynamics of their partnership, highlighting disagreements over directing and creative control.

  "You have an argument about. You say, you know, do you really think that you directed the movies more than I did?" [11:09]

• Scriptwriting and Production: Tommy Chong explains his role in writing and scene development, emphasizing the collaborative nature of their work.

  "I wrote the scenario which he was going to do the dialogue in, and I had to write it on a yellow page." [14:35]

• Stoner Comedy Legacy: Maher acknowledges their pioneering role in stoner comedy and its cultural impact:

  "You did invent a whole genre of comedy. It didn't exist before you." [18:48]

• Personal Anecdotes: The duo shares humorous stories, including Chong’s brief stint in jail for selling bongs and their enduring friendship despite past conflicts.

  "I was gonna say you would be great in." [19:12]

3. Panel Discussion with Kevin McCarthy & Kara Swisher

Bill Maher introduces his panelists, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and tech journalist Kara Swisher, to discuss the current political and economic landscape.

A. Trump's Economic Performance and Approval Ratings

Maher presents a grim picture of Trump's first 100 days, citing various economic indicators:

"7% is the S&P 500 is down. Economy has shrunk for the first time in three years. Value of the dollar is down 10%." [03:25]

Kevin McCarthy's Response:

McCarthy counters by highlighting the recent uptick in the stock market:

"This is the stock market up for the first time, nine straight days. That's only happened eight times in the last 25 years." [22:17]

He attributes the market’s resilience to potential trade negotiations and investments:

"We know the tariffs are a negotiation. It's not going to stay this way." [22:30]

B. Trade with China and Tariff Impacts

Maher criticizes Trump’s tariff strategy, questioning its effectiveness and long-term impact on American consumers and businesses.

"Can't China put an end to that? Can't they?" [23:34]

McCarthy's Insights:

McCarthy emphasizes the necessity of reducing American dependence on China, particularly regarding critical minerals and medical supplies:

"They control 90%, but they control 95% of the processing of critical minerals. So we have to change all that." [24:35]

He advocates for strengthening alliances with democracies like India, Japan, and the UK to counter China’s influence.

"We should embrace India with the same thought. They're the largest democracy." [24:35]

Maher remains skeptical about the administration’s approach, highlighting the lack of leverage against China:

"This is the problem with this strategy... and look, I saw you today. You guys still love each other, right?" [25:35]

C. Democrats' Strategies and Internal Conflicts

Maher shifts focus to the Democratic Party, discussing Governor J.B. Pritzker's call for widespread protests and mobilization.

"It's time to fight everywhere and all at once. Never before in my life have I called for mass protests, for mobilization, for disruption." [38:02]

McCarthy's Take:

McCarthy critiques the Democrats' internal divisions and their inability to present unified strategies:

"It's a civil war in the Democratic Party." [39:25]

He emphasizes the need for new ideas and leadership to rejuvenate the party.

D. AI and Technological Developments

The panel discusses the rapid advancements in AI, particularly Mark Zuckerberg's initiatives for AI companionship:

"Mark Zuckerberg... talking about AI companionship, which I fund." [44:24]

Concerns Highlighted:

• Ethical Implications: Maher expresses discomfort with AI being designed as friends or sexual companions, raising concerns about human relationships and societal impacts.

  "I think it's more dangerous to think that you can have friends who are not human." [48:12]

• Economic and Strategic Advantages: McCarthy underscores the importance of AI and quantum computing in maintaining global competitiveness against China.

  "Whoever captures AI and quantum first is gonna have an advantage over other countries." [48:21]

E. Tax Policies and Economic Forecasts

Maher touches upon the Republican stance on taxes, especially regarding the wealthy:

"I heard last week the Republicans are actually thinking about raising taxes on the rich. That never really happens, does it?" [32:09]

McCarthy dismisses the notion, portraying it as unlikely despite ongoing discussions.

4. Comedy Segments and 'New Rules'

Bill Maher incorporates his signature comedic segments, introducing a series of "New Rules" that satirize current events and societal trends.

Examples Include:

• Chubby Checker’s Hall of Fame Induction:

  "New rule: Now that Chubby Checker has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the hall must issue an apology to any recording artist who didn't make it in." [49:55]

• Promoting Tragedies with Humor:

  "New rule: Instead of saying that the $67 million super plane that fell off the side of one of our aircraft carriers this week was lost at sea. Just say it was promoted to submarines." [50:29]

• Satirical Takes on Pop Culture:

  "If you read the headline like I did, that said Meghan Markle reveals why she and Prince Harry call each other M and H, don't get your hopes up." [51:10]

Maher uses these segments to highlight absurdities in media reporting and public perception, blending sharp wit with social commentary.

5. Closing Remarks

Bill Maher wraps up the episode by summarizing the discussions and emphasizing the need for bipartisan cooperation and realistic political strategies. He thanks his guests and encourages listeners to engage with the content:

"That's our show. I want to thank my guests, Kevin McCarthy, Kara Swisher, and Cheech and Chong. All right. Club Random drops every Sunday on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcast." [59:06]

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Notable Quotes:

1. Bill Maher on Trump's Approval:

   "39% of America approval rating. That's the lowest 100 day mark for a president in 80 years." [03:25]

2. Kevin McCarthy on Trade Negotiations:

   "If they get in the next 60 days, a couple trade agreements, I think you're going to see this market take off." [24:35]

3. Cheech Marin on Stoner Comedy:

   "You did invent a whole genre of comedy. It didn't exist before you." [18:48]

4. Kara Swisher on AI Companionship:

   "We're testing it and making it very aggressive and sexual at the same time." [45:30]

5. Bill Maher on Democrats' Internal Struggles:

   "The Democrats haven't quite figured out that their ideas lost the election. They've got to go back and look at new ideas." [39:52]

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Conclusion

Episode #694 of "Real Time with Bill Maher" offers a comprehensive blend of humor, political analysis, and cultural commentary. From discussing the economic impacts of Trump's policies with former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and tech insight from Kara Swisher, to engaging conversations with comedic legends Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, the episode provides listeners with thought-provoking insights and sharp wit. Maher’s ability to intertwine serious discourse with satire makes this episode a valuable listen for those keen on understanding the current socio-political climate.

Transcript

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[Bill Maher]

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[Bill Maher]

Welcome to an HBO podcast from the HBO late night series Real Time with Bill Ma.

Start the clock.

Thank you. Thank you, people. How are you? Thank you, thank you, thank you. I appreciate it. Okay. Thank you so much for putting on a great. I appreciate it. Thank you. Please, please. I know, I know. It's just you're excited because it's Cinco de Mayo weekend. Cinco. Yes, Cinco de Mayo.

Or as the Trump administration calls it, May 5th. Yeah, well, Trump, he does not celebrate it too much. He's not a drinker. He does not drink tequila, you know, but he wanted to spend the day with something that had a worm, so he asked in rfk.

Oh, we just joke. We make jokes. Oh, yes. Bobby Kennedy.

Oh, my God, Bobby, I try so hard for you, but, you know, I mean, Jesus Christ. Now he's saying that chemtrails are real. This has been a conspiracy theory for the longest. You know, the things that come out at the end of a plane. Yes. Planes make smoke.

But Bobby says we have to end.

This crime against humanity. Okay, you know what? The engine on a plane is hot and the air up there is very cold. Oh, fuck it. I don't give a shit.

Believe what you want to believe. I really. We're all going to hell in a handcart anyway, if that makes you happy. I mean, Christ, we hit the 100.

Day mark of the Trump administration, as you know, this week, and, ooh, the. The numbers are kind of in the toilet. 39% of America approval rating. That's the lowest 100 day mark for a president in 80 years. It's like America remarried their ex and Remembered why they got divorced in the first place.

I'm just giving you the facts.

The s and P500 down 7% since Trump took office. The value of the dollar is off 10%. The economy has shrunk for the first time in three years. Consumer confidence is down for the first time in five years. Kind of a high price for getting back plastic straws is what I would say.

And, you know, this is all because.

Of the tariffs, which are going to have been in effect now for a while. And then it's. We see it already now, the ports. I don't know if you go to the ports. I don't, but I see, I see. Well, you always see that. You know, it's always been the bustling port of the bustling. No, bustling ports are not bustling. And, you know, the containers aren't coming in, the ports aren't unloading. And then what happens? They say soon the shelves at Walmart could be 90% bare. Just like the people who shop there.

No, I kid the Walmart shoppers.

But, you know, you know Trump, he only doubles down. I mean, this guy, I gotta say, the ball's on him. They asked him about what's gonna happen Christmas because, you know, 80% of the toys come from China, and this is the time they're starting to plan for that. Trump said, well, maybe the children this year will get two dolls instead of 30. And maybe they'll cost more, right? So there's less on the shelf and it costs more. What's your problem? People just. Just imagine you live at the airport. I mean, I mean, who runs on a pledge of let's make Christmas worse for children? He's also opening a new Trump branded store called Toys R Sus. And you know.

The thing is that.

People in this country now, we don't understand why we're doing this. Why are we fucking putting ourselves through this? To bring manufacturing back from China to make the things here that they make in China. That's the American dream. Hey, you see that squirtle hanging off that girl's backpack? My kid made that. That's really the new American dream. A house, a car, and a job painting the eyes on Bratz dolls. I mean, for fuck's sake.

But.

Not all bad news. We're getting a military parade for Trump's birthday. So I know. Tanks in the street. Just what we need. Yeah, and he's big on renaming. We're going to rename Veterans Day Victory Day. We're going to rename VE Day. That's Victory Over Europe Day. That's going to be victory over World War II Day and Columbus Day. Columbus Day is going to be just Columbus Day for a while. We went to Columbus Day. And also recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day. Trump says, no, we're going to get rid of that. He said, that is just something activists made up to distort the true message of the holiday, which is that it's always okay for white people to come here uninvited.

All right, we got a great show. We have Kevin McCarthy and Karis Risher. But first up, they are the iconic comedic duo who are featured in their new documentary, Cheech and Chong's Last Movie, now in theaters. Cheech and Chong are here. Oh, my God. Voice. Great to see you again, Rich. How are you, pal?

[Cheech Marin]

I'm good, man.

[Bill Maher]

All right, well, great to see you again.

It's been a little while, but I think you deserve that rock star welcome because you are. You are truly rock star. And I was thinking, watching your movie, which is fantastic, by the way, that there's just been. I could name, like, maybe a handful of people who I thought were comics who were also kind of got the rock star life and the treatment playing stadiums. You guys had hit singles. Yeah. I mean, Eddie Murphy did it, Steve Martin did it. Dice Clay did it. Russell Brand did it. Maybe a little too much Monty Python, Howard Stern. That's about the list, but you guys kind of invented it. Now, in the movie, you have a moment where you say we were a band and you say we weren't, and you insist you were. I think you were. You were just like a rock band, weren't you?

[Tommy Chong]

No, I've been in bands. He's a singer. Yeah, there's a difference. Yeah.

[Cheech Marin]

Singers have bands.

[Bill Maher]

Yeah, but. Well, I mean, you're such a rock star. I think, Tommy, you had two families, which is something I learned in the movie. Do you want to.

[Tommy Chong]

I got so black, I married a white woman.

[Bill Maher]

What I love about this movie, though, most of all, I mean, we're gonna get to the origin story, but you don't hide the fight. No, I mean, it's a movie where you. It's a lot of great clips from the greatest hits era, which went on for a long time. The movies, the singles, the music, the stage stuff. But then it's. Now you see the two of you driving in the car.

[Tommy Chong]

That's the director. He got it out of us. You know, we didn't sign up for it. When they said movies, we thought, oh, we'll do a Cheech and Chong. Our Take on it. But we got there and there was no script. And then the way he had it, wrote it. Dave Bushell. Bushel got to get his name right. It's that. That. The fighting that's interesting.

[Bill Maher]

I think a lot of people would have cut that out. I know they would have just went and let's look at the old days and see how great it was. And it was. But for anyone who's ever been curious about why bands break up and why they come to hit each other's fucking guts, this is the movie for you. Because it's all the things, I think, that go on in bands. I mean, at one point you say something like, tommy moved to France and, you know, his ego just surpassed his talent, or something like that.

[Tommy Chong]

What did he say?

[Cheech Marin]

No, that's not what I said. I said his ego way surpassed his talent.

[Bill Maher]

Right. You know, I mean, that's better. There's also the kind of the. At one point, you say you're the senior member, which I'm sure pisses you off.

[Cheech Marin]

No, not at all. Because we're way older. But he is a senior member, right?

[Bill Maher]

Meaning he's older than you. But I mean.

[Tommy Chong]

And that senior member isn't working anymore. I tried.

[Bill Maher]

Yeah.

[Tommy Chong]

No, no, Come on, guy. What's up, man?

[Bill Maher]

I mean, you have an argument about. You say, you know, do you really think that you directed the movies more than I did? And you think you did, and you think he didn't?

[Cheech Marin]

No, I don't think he did. I mean, we had a. When we were making records, which is my favorite period, more than the movie. Movies. It's because we were making it up as we were going along. And this one is because the way the movies are set up, they have a director, they have a star, and they have a writer, and they have. But they're segmented. All the parts are segmented. And that's where I didn't mind not being named as director. But we were working as we always worked. But Tommy wanted to be the main director. Fine with me.

[Tommy Chong]

Like, I wanted to be.

[Bill Maher]

Yeah. What?

[Tommy Chong]

No, the thing is, you have to be. If you're a director, you have to direct. That's the way it is. And if you don't direct, you don't work. It's a talent. It's like playing music, you know, that's why music is so popular, because it's so real. You talk about truth. That's where you'll find it in music. Just the fact that they have to tune up, get the tune, get everything perfect. In tune. And so a director has a vision and knows what he wants to see, what he has to see. And one time when we were.

[Bill Maher]

I could see him thinking, oh, this asshole's doing it again.

[Tommy Chong]

No, exactly. But one time, I. I called Terrence Malick. I'm a big fan of Terrence Malick. His. His movies are incredible. And because we're looking for a director and. And we had a little conversation. I knew I was bugging him. You know, I had that feeling, you know, like, who is this?

[Bill Maher]

What do you want? It remind me of some of his movies.

[Cheech Marin]

Days of Heaven, Badlands. Badlands.

[Tommy Chong]

That's the one. I really love these.

[Bill Maher]

These are not funny.

[Tommy Chong]

No, no, no. I'm talking about composition.

[Bill Maher]

Right.

[Tommy Chong]

Talking about the whole movie. Movie experience.

[Bill Maher]

And you thought that would have been good for a Cheech and Chong?

[Tommy Chong]

Absolutely.

[Bill Maher]

Okay.

[Tommy Chong]

Absolutely. And so I talked to him, and. And it was a short conversation. He says. He said, did you write it? And I said, yes. And he says, well, then you direct it. And I said, okay, Right. It makes sense to me.

[Bill Maher]

Did he write it?

[Cheech Marin]

We wrote it together. We wrote all our stuff together.

[Tommy Chong]

But I wrote it. I wrote the scenes. They would come to me for what Stacy Keach was going to do.

[Bill Maher]

Was he in the movie?

[Tommy Chong]

The rest of the.

[Cheech Marin]

Up in Smoke?

[Tommy Chong]

He was in that movie, up in.

[Cheech Marin]

Smoke and next movie.

[Tommy Chong]

And. And so they had to know what the scene was. Now, Stacy wrote his own dialogue, but I wrote the scenario which he was going to do the dialogue in, and I had to write it on a yellow page with up and spoke, and I did it every day. And then the script girl would come and take it, get it typed, get it to the director, Lou Adler, and that. So if there's any question, ask Lou Adler or Lou Lombardo, they were the ones that directed.

[Bill Maher]

I don't want to referee it. I just, you know, I just think, you know, fans were.

[Tommy Chong]

Well, Howard Brown, who was in the.

[Bill Maher]

Movie, was he the manager?

[Tommy Chong]

And actually, another thing.

[Bill Maher]

Rock bands fight over. I want this guy as my manager, and you want this guy. Other guy. And you fought over that, too. You fought over everything. Rock bands fight over.

[Cheech Marin]

Yeah, exactly. We were a rock band.

[Bill Maher]

You were absolutely.

[Cheech Marin]

We were American musicians all our lives. We were in bands all our lives.

[Bill Maher]

And you had the same kind of popularity.

[Tommy Chong]

And by the way, Bill, I wrote the song.

[Bill Maher]

That.

That makes the whole world sing.

[Tommy Chong]

Basketball Jones, writing the movie. You know, the. That we're going to do with Lou Adler.

[Bill Maher]

Right.

[Tommy Chong]

And I came to a meeting one day, and I had a Song. It was called up in Smoke.

[Bill Maher]

Right.

[Tommy Chong]

And I sang it for the people. And Cheech said. Am I right?

[Cheech Marin]

Yeah, so far.

[Tommy Chong]

And Cheech said. And Cheech. So Lou. That's the title of the movie. But when I'm saying Lou wanted to call it Cheech and Chong's Greatest Hits, in fact, that was a working title. But when Cheech heard Up in Smoke and then Cheech, the Spanish version of up in Smoke, and it's in the movie. So, yeah, I wrote the song.

[Bill Maher]

Okay.

[Tommy Chong]

See, it's important. I'll tell you why it's important.

[Bill Maher]

Okay. Tommy, does someone have a joint?

I gotta get this guy to chill out.

[Tommy Chong]

Rolling Stones are very successful, right?

[Bill Maher]

Rolling Stones, yes.

[Tommy Chong]

Except for two guys.

[Bill Maher]

Who?

[Tommy Chong]

Bill Wyman and Charlie.

[Bill Maher]

Charlie Watts.

[Tommy Chong]

Yeah.

[Bill Maher]

The drummer and the bass player. Why aren't they successful?

[Tommy Chong]

They never got into the tunes. They never got resumed.

[Cheech Marin]

They never wrote any of the tunes.

[Tommy Chong]

They never wrote any of the tunes. They never got any residuals. So they got paid for performing, but they never got any Mick or Keith money.

[Bill Maher]

Right. Well, you don't. If you don't write the songs.

[Tommy Chong]

Yeah, but you're in the band, you're together. You've been with them all your life. Don't you think they should. Something should have come out of it.

[Bill Maher]

Oh, I think that's his line.

But.

So which one of you is the biggest owner?

[Tommy Chong]

This biggest owner.

[Bill Maher]

I mean, today and back then.

[Cheech Marin]

Are you the biggest owner or me? I don't know.

[Bill Maher]

Really.

[Cheech Marin]

I really don't know at this point.

[Tommy Chong]

Well, he just sees me and he'll contradict it.

[Cheech Marin]

Yeah, most of the time, I. When we first met, I was just meditator. I didn't smoke at all. I had smoked before, but I.

[Bill Maher]

A potter. The movie said a potter.

[Cheech Marin]

I made pottery.

[Bill Maher]

How fitting.

[Cheech Marin]

Yeah. I saw a T shirt the other day, it said, chicken pot pie. My three favorite things. That's kind of me, like. But I. But I went through. But now I smoke every once in a while when I.

[Bill Maher]

Well, all of us who smoke, some of us who've done it on tv, we owe you such a debt because, you know, when you. First of all, you did invent a whole genre of comedy. It didn't exist before you. That's right. The stoner stuff. And also, it was dangerous back then that you're stoner.

[Cheech Marin]

In jail for a long time.

[Bill Maher]

He went to jail in this century for selling bongs, right?

[Tommy Chong]

That's right.

[Bill Maher]

How long were you in jail for?

[Tommy Chong]

Nine months.

[Bill Maher]

Wow. Did you meet any nice guys? Did you Meet any nice guys?

[Cheech Marin]

Nice guys in prison?

[Tommy Chong]

I was gonna say you would be great in.

[Bill Maher]

Why?

What does that mean?

I didn't even get it.

[Tommy Chong]

Okay. Anyway, don't knock it if you haven't tried it.

[Bill Maher]

All right? Tonight.

[Tommy Chong]

He wouldn't. He never visited me. I did visit one time.

[Bill Maher]

One time.

[Cheech Marin]

That's all it took.

[Bill Maher]

I get it.

[Cheech Marin]

You're in jail.

[Bill Maher]

Okay, well, I hope you're having a good time with this, and I hope you. I love it. I mean, at the end of the movie, you say, you know, can't we just get past the past?

[Cheech Marin]

That would be great.

[Bill Maher]

You can't completely ever.

[Cheech Marin]

No.

[Bill Maher]

No one ever forgets where they buried a hatchet. But you still can love each other. And fans, whether it's. Whatever the band is, we just want them not to be at odds with each other. There's something emotional that's important, that the Beatles didn't hate each other at the end. And Simon and Garfunkel don't really hate each other. And I think I see you today. You guys still love each other, right?

All right, well, let's end it on that. Thank you so much. The movie's fantastic, by the way. Go see it. Cheech and Chong, everybody. All right, let's meet our panel. Hey, how you doing? Wow. All right. He is a former Republican Congressman representing California's 20th here and served as 55th speaker of the House. Kevin McCarthy is back with us. All right. And she co hosts the Pivot podcast.

And wrote the New York Times bestseller Burn Book, A Tech Love Story.

Kara Swisher, great to see you, as always.

So much good stuff to talk about that's going on. Yeah, so much. It was May Day yesterday, and everyone on Wall street was yelling, may Day. May Day. Also, the first hundred days. And, you know, this is traditionally what they call the president's honeymoon. You know, presidents do big things in the first hundred days. Obama did Obamacare. Biden had the infrastructure thing, because you really. You get a brief honeymoon. So this is the honeymoon. What is the rest of this marriage going to look like? Because I just want to read some of the stats. I read some of them in the monologues. 7% is the S&P 500 is down. Economy has shrunk for the first time in three years. Value of the dollar is down 10%. Consumer confidence down. Trucking volume starting to tank. Jamie Dimon says the best case scenario is a recession. UPS is cutting 20,000 jobs because they expect less packages to be delivered. Even McDonald's is down 3.6%. Goldman Sachs says we will experience the lowest economic growth and the highest inflation of any big boy country in 2025. Even empty seats at Beyonce's concert. I guess what I'm asking is Kevin. So everybody knows something except Trump, or is it the other way around? We're all wrong and he's got it right.

[Kevin McCarthy]

We're not all wrong, but this is the point You. A couple things you didn't mention. This is the stock market up for the first time, nine straight days. That's only happened eight times in the last 25 years.

[Bill Maher]

Up from where it was way down.

[Kevin McCarthy]

But you haven't been every single day for nine straight days. That's only happened 31 times in 97 years.

[Bill Maher]

And why did that happen, I'm asking?

[Kevin McCarthy]

Well, I think we've gotten over that. We know the tariffs are a negotiation. It's not going to stay this way. I think people are seeing the investment coming back. You look at the jobs numbers today, it surpassed the second time. And if you read into the job numbers, yeah, jobs were up 9,000 jobs have been cut in government, but the private sector has grown. So this, he's doing a disruption. But you're seeing kind of a little light at the end of the tunnel now. If they get in the next 60 days, a couple trade agreements, I think you're going to see this market take off. If you look at this historical number, if it is eight days in a row, 80% of the time, the market's up 5% in the next six months.

[Bill Maher]

So this is the tech companies. It's not up for any other reason. The Magnificent Seven did. These tech companies reported this quarter and they did really well. And it was largely Meta and Microsoft. And so a lot of the gains are there.

They're not worried that all the phones come from China.

Well, that's Apple.

[Kevin McCarthy]

What most for India.

[Bill Maher]

No, that's not true.

It's China.

It's China.

China makes the phone.

So that's Apple Computer. But Meta's not affected. Meta has a global business. Microsoft has a global business.

But can't China put an end to that? Can't they? I feel like he picked a fight with a bigger bully than him and that we don't have the leverage. This is the problem with this strategy, in my view, is that China has the rare earth metals. China sends us the phones. China has the antibiotics, for Christ's sake, and the pharmaceuticals.

This has been a massive gift to China. What's happening here because they can go around the world and make alliances and make other arrangements and look like the good guy, which they certainly aren't, by the way. We were the good guy for a long time with a lot of these allies. And I think this is perfect timing for them. And they can endure pain. I mean, when Americans don't get 30 dolls, they've freak out. It's not an issue for China.

Right.

[Kevin McCarthy]

But this is why I created a select committee on China. We are too dependent on China.

[Bill Maher]

Correct.

[Kevin McCarthy]

I mean, 50% of our medical supply. You're right about the critical minerals. They control 90%, but they control 95% of the processing of critical minerals. So we have to change all that. And what you really need to do is work with the allies to focus just on China for the same reasons. When we were competing against the Soviet Union, we opened up the three communiques with China. We should embrace India with the same thought. They're the largest democracy. They have surpassed China in population. They didn't have the one child policy long term. And then we should do a trade agreement with Japan, we should do one with the uk but we probably got the order wrong. We should have done those first.

[Bill Maher]

Why keep the allies in the teeth doing it? Why do that while kicking? Canada, Mexico, all these different.

[Kevin McCarthy]

I don't believe we should. I think we should embrace.

[Bill Maher]

I would love to know what the strategy. Because it feels like a. There's an expression in tech called chaos monkey. Well, this particular chaos monkey is throwing feces all over the planet essentially and saying enjoy. So I don't get why.

[Kevin McCarthy]

Okay, miss, Today China has changed a little of it. China said, let's talk about fentanyl. And what China has quietly done is they have given some waivers to some tariffs about American products as well. I think this is part of the negotiation. Look, anytime President Trump says he's going to put a 10% tariff on it happens. When he says 25%, that means I want to negotiate. And everything is a, is a negotiation here. But you have a short time period because when you order a product from China, it takes about 60 days before it gets to the shelf. If we sit in an economy where the shelves are empty, the American public will not be happy about that. So you've got to get that negotiations done soon.

[Bill Maher]

But it's the idea that you're the madman theory, this idea that he's playing, I know the 4D chess thing. I mean, as Scott Galloway on our podcast said, it's like he's not playing 4D chess, he's eating the chess pieces, which is a good joke. I have to Attribute it to Scott. But there's no point in being chaotic because businesses can't plan. They don't know what to do next. And only the businesses. And the reason the stock market is because of the technology sector being more tariff resistant. Most of the technology sector is this.

[Kevin McCarthy]

Is S&P 500 up nine days in a row that hasn't up. So it's more than just the tech. But I also think from one standpoint, remember what the President is trying to do is reciprocal. Like we have a trade agreement with South Korea. We're supposed to be able to sell our potatoes there, but they still won't. But we have a lot of Kias made strict over here, but also made here. He is getting a number of trillions of dollars of people saying they're going to invest here because with the tariffs, it makes it a little more profitable that they should move back. It is going to take a disruption. But you can't carry this on for a year. It has to in the next two months, get trade agreements done. And you've got to get China to the table. I don't think they'd be coming to the table.

[Bill Maher]

Well, give him this. He is able to say to American people things that I just cannot imagine any other president ever saying, which is basically suck it up. I remember when Jimmy Carter was run out of town for saying malaise. Yes, you people remember that malaise was the greatest deal ever. Trump is like, yeah, your kid doesn't need 30 toys. Kid needs two toys. Yeah, I'm gonna tell you how many toys your kid needs, you fucking brats. He said the other day, China made a trillion dollars. With Biden selling us stuff, much of it we don't need. Is this the Republican position that the President of the United States gets to tell us what we need and don't wait?

It's ironic. A lot of their products, a lot of the Trump products are from China, of course. And it looks like that Oval Office was completely decorated by Shein.

But it is.

I find it remarkable from the party that believes in ultimate freedom. So they say to tell us what we need and don't need, we didn't need all that shit we got from China. And you know, he's not completely wrong. A lot of it is a bunch of plastic.

I would agree. I have so many plastics.

[Tommy Chong]

Okay.

[Bill Maher]

But it's still up to us.

[Kevin McCarthy]

But if you go to middle America, they believe this exactly 100%. You go Michigan. This is why he won.

[Bill Maher]

Believe.

[Kevin McCarthy]

What about that? We have moved too many jobs away that they have lost the ability of the manufacturing, especially throughout. They've watched it happen to themselves. But what I see the President doing, and he's made a little more gold in the Oval Office.

[Bill Maher]

Gold is best.

[Kevin McCarthy]

Yes, well, that's what you win when you win the Olympics. But even today, you mentioned earlier said his poll numbers were lower. There's one other poll. They asked the voters again, if you had the election today, would you vote for Trump or Kamala and he would win again today. So, I mean, I think people will stay with him longer. And if you want to have change and for anybody that's upset about it, he actually said he would do this in the campaign. He's doing exactly what he said he would do.

[Bill Maher]

Not at all. Actually, it's much more drastic. Yes, absolutely not. He was saying different things. He was talking about the economy bringing down the price of eggs, I think. And now the biggest meme on the Internet is Trump take egg. You know, for you, which I don't know if you've seen it, but it's very funny. But he's not. The idea that we shouldn't. Americans want to have what they want. And the idea that we're going to bring manufacturing back here, especially this cheap manufacturing. You're absolutely right. But getting. I just interviewed Lisa Su, who's the head of AMD. They make GPUs just like Nvidia. It takes 10 years to get a factory here, if we can get it at all. And this is not a short term thing. And if you're saying he only has a year, there's a very limited timeframe.

[Kevin McCarthy]

But do you think, okay, in all these countries that we allow their products to come to America? If he's really just talking about reciprocal, is that not fair? Is that not right? That American products should be able to.

[Bill Maher]

We sell tech products, we're in a surplus in tech products, we're in a surplus in service.

[Kevin McCarthy]

Yeah, but they close so many of these markets like I was making with South Korea. We can't sell our own potatoes to the McDonald's in South Korea, even though in the trade agreement says you can.

[Bill Maher]

Well, I was. So he's making a point with every Trump idea. Not every, but a lot of them. There is some value in a lot of them. It's just the way they do it. Why do they have to do it in this manner where it's just way bigger than it needed to be? The same thing with Doge, the same thing with immigration. Well, I mean, let me ask you about, you know, like Do I think it's good that we get rid of South American gangs? Yes. Yes. What about the Russian gangs? I never hear about them. I'm afraid of them, too. What about the people who took Liam Neeson's poor daughter and taken.

Yeah, he got her back.

He got her back.

He got her back.

Well, he had a special set of skills.

He had a special. That was a great movie.

Yeah, a great movie.

Not as good.

[Kevin McCarthy]

He's cheating Chong.

[Bill Maher]

But you know what I'm saying, Like, everything seems to be done in a way that is so unnecessarily over the top.

Yeah. It's like a chainsaw, for example. A chainsaw versus a surgical chainsaw.

And a lie. You know, I mean, I showed the clip a couple weeks ago because I was talking about the Defense Department when he said, you know, we're going to find billions of savings there. Well, it turns out the new. This used to be your job, coming up with the budget. They came up with their. What they call the skinny budget. Just the thumbnail sketch of what it's going to be across the board, cuts for everything except border security. Another thing that needed to be corrected. Absolutely. Border security. Security. Again, not the way he's doing it necessarily, but, yes, he got that done. But the defense budget, up over a trillion now. That's the one thing that goes up. So they just lie every time they lie. Also, I heard last week the Republicans are actually thinking about raising taxes on the rich. That never really happens, does it? That never really happens.

That was an excellent rich person's laugh. Thank you both.

Thank you.

[Kevin McCarthy]

Nothing holds you back from writing a bigger check?

[Bill Maher]

No. Well, don't. No, that's not gonna happen. And we haven't even gotten to the corruption part of it, you know, I mean, our finances look like they're gonna be screwed. My savings thing went down. His are better than ever.

Crypto.

Crypto. And also, like I read today, he's opening. They're going to build. Trump family's going to build a resort in the United Arab Emirates.

Yeah.

Can you imagine Obama doing that? Obama's in the resorts business now. No comment from the Republicans. That would have been okay with you guys, but that's the business he did.

[Kevin McCarthy]

Before he was even in.

[Bill Maher]

But he's president now.

Of course, you give it up when you.

[Kevin McCarthy]

He's not involved in his business. Eric Russell, resort.

[Tommy Chong]

Oh, shut up.

[Bill Maher]

He's done this.

Just shut up.

[Kevin McCarthy]

It is unfair, Unfair to criticize if the Trump business that builds resorts still builds resorts.

[Bill Maher]

I'm fine with resorts. If you want to. Although it's a very thin skin, it's not fine. Crypto stuff is ridiculous and it's corrupt. It's a way to pay the president under the table in ways we do not understand and will not understand and so we shouldn't have.

Right. It's a way to pay the.

Yes, it's a way to.

It makes it feel like. And I think we'll see in time a coin operated president like you can give him money and not know it, et cetera.

Well, that's kind of what crypto is.

Yes.

All right. Well, among the sectors that are shitting in their pants is tourism. Because the tourism season is almost upon us and people are just not coming here anymore. Partly because some of them just want to say fuck you for being assholes to the rest of the world. Canadians. I don't think you're going to see them here in great numbers for a long time.

[Kevin McCarthy]

The Prime Minister's coming Tuesday.

[Bill Maher]

The Prime Minister, that's not exactly a tourist, Kevin, but he's coming.

And also people are just afraid.

They don't know what the fuck we're going to do. So they are. Well, are we going to be thrown into jail? Are we going to be sent back? Whatever.

They don't want to go on an all expense paid trip to El Salvador.

No.

So in order to try to salvage.

The tourist season, they've come up with some tourist posters.

Would you like to see them that way? These are to try to get people to still come to America. I don't know if they're going to work. For example, there's. See Mount Rushmore before they add Trump to it. Oh, I don't know if that's going to work, America.

It's been two days since our last.

Forcible deportation visit the usa. Now with shower pressure restored to pre Biden level.

Visit America and make the world's most expensive omelette.

Wow.

Visit historic Yellowstone lumber mill.

America.

We've got big balls.

We do have. Leave that up there. They gotta see the balls. Visit America now.

Wait until. Why wait until we annex you.

And of course America come for the scenery.

Stay because Elon Musk got you pregnant.

All right.

Oh, gentle. Good fun.

That's what we do here. Okay.

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[Bill Maher]

So now let's talk about the Democrats.

And what they're up to. Because there was a lot of excitement this past week because the governor of Illinois, that is jb. I don't know what JB stands for, but something he's a billionaire. Billionaire I'm sure he can afford. So billionaire Ford his own letters. J.B. pritzker of Illinois. He's been rumored to be before presidential timber. So he made a big speech and he said it's time to fight everywhere and all at once. Never before in my life have I called for mass protests, for mobilization, for disruption. These Republicans cannot know a moment of peace. Now, he said he wasn't calling for a national strike, but that is the description of a national strike. And I don't know if people know what a national strike is We've seen them in other countries. We've certainly seen Solidarity in Poland at one point. This is when the whole country goes on strike. I'm not against this idea or exploring it. I just want to ask if it's feasible in America. I mean, we've seen it certainly in European countries, France, you know, a strike where the union is. When one sector goes on strike. A national strike is when everybody says, fuck this, we just cannot take this government and what it's doing. Is this something that is feasible here in America? Would Americans have the discipline to do it and no, I would agree.

No.

[Kevin McCarthy]

Here's Pritzker, a billionaire who wants people to go off work. Is he going to pay for them? And who's going to sustain it? And you have to have a cause and a reason why. His cause is he wants to show that he's a leader and wants to run for president. I think the Democrats haven't quite figured out that their ideas lost the election. They've got to go back and look at new ideas. It's a civil war in the Democratic Party. If you watched Carville versus Hogue the other night, here's an 80 year old versus a 25 year old.

[Bill Maher]

Although it ended in a hug.

It did.

[Kevin McCarthy]

And they talked about the old Lincoln, you know, they wanted to fire Grant and he said no, because this man fights. Actually, Hogue is going to be a leader in the future because all he's saying, let's get out the old dead wood and let's get in with new ideas and younger people.

[Bill Maher]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Kevin McCarthy]

And that's what the party needs.

[Bill Maher]

They all have a different one. I just interviewed Wes Moore, who is also another person who's clearly running. Yes. He has a very different governor of Maryland. Results is his idea. Results, just results.

[Kevin McCarthy]

He has real potential.

[Bill Maher]

Yes. I think that Republicans are thinking about him a lot. It seems like very attractive in lots of ways. Military, likable, likable, et cetera, you know. And then you have Gretchen Whitmer, who's doing Governor Whitmer.

Okay, well, come on, man.

Well, I know, but I'm just saying everyone has their own thing. I know.

It's so funny because like a couple weeks ago she got into big trouble because she was in the Oval Office and hid. Hid in the Oval Office. Yeah, there's the.

She let me do out live for you now. Okay.

And then this week she punked her twice. Punked her twice, Called her up. He was in Michigan. It was something that, you know, governors need the President's help on Certain things, you know, and he calls her up, which she didn't expect. And then she got. They got a picture of her hugging him or smiling with him. Oh, there it is. And now she's history's greatest monster for that. And I would just like to say I was trying to help her the other week. Just own it, like a certain talk show host did.

When you meet the president, just. It's okay. He's the president.

You don't have to.

That's not true.

[Kevin McCarthy]

But that should not be wrong. That should not be wrong at all.

[Bill Maher]

She got punked and she should have been prepared and it should have been done in a different way. Like come into the office. Oh, look, there's a whole bunch of reporters here. That was a little different. She did. She did a video. She's very heavy on social media. And she said, I'm working for the people of Michigan and I'm going to do it whether you all like it or not. She did do that. Dennis is owning it. So it's not as if she.

Okay, but there is.

[Kevin McCarthy]

This is after she hit her face up.

[Bill Maher]

That was the first time.

[Kevin McCarthy]

Our country should not have a problem with people of two different parties. The election's over. Sitting down, working on issues, especially a president and a governor. I think the next president. I like the idea that governors become president because they have to balance their budget. They got to run agencies. They can't print more money to balance it. I think it's a great training ground. I think members of Congress and Senate, they don't even manage their own office. So I like an idea of a governor working across party lines.

[Bill Maher]

Yeah. I think the issue was she was. There was a kibnot plot. He called her that nasty. I think it was that nasty woman or something. No, that was Hillary. What woman?

That was the lady in Puerto Rico.

Well, that's a lot of ladies.

A lot of bad ladies.

Anyone who says nothing is a nasty woman.

A nasty woman.

He did it.

If you don't.

That woman. I think it was that woman.

Whatever it was. But that's.

I know, but in her case, it was a very severe plot to kill her.

But look, he's going to be there for another four years. Okay? The idea that you can ignore him or hide in the Oval Office is just insane.

[Kevin McCarthy]

Well, you don't go in the Oval Office and think you're going to hide. You should have made that decision before.

[Bill Maher]

Because he's a guy.

He did look surprised.

Everything with him is personal relationships.

[Kevin McCarthy]

Yeah.

[Bill Maher]

So if some. You were rude to me. Yeah. And then when you need, like, aid to Michigan, it's, well, you were very rude. You were a nasty woman. It's like, I'm sorry, that's not right.

Right. That.

That guy who acts that way in the office. But it is. It's who he is, and it's not going to change. So you might as well talk to the guy. It's just deliberate.

Although I talked to a bunch of other Democratic governors. They're like, we're not showing up in many places. Like, they're going to make sure where they are so they don't get caught.

Here's what you have to understand.

[Kevin McCarthy]

I have a lot of Democratic governors who call me to ask me to talk to the president. I say, why don't you just talk to him?

[Bill Maher]

Tell me about your caucus and when I mean, caucus the people.

[Kevin McCarthy]

Well, there's not just one caucus in the republic. There's like three or four.

[Bill Maher]

But your people.

[Kevin McCarthy]

Yes. Some I claim somewhere.

[Bill Maher]

Am I right or wrong about this? The biggest issue is that they have a very big chip on their shoulder somewhat, very understandable about being called deplorables. Yes. And having the cool kids in the class, in the media and academia looking down on them, thinking they're deplorable. And so they just have this I'm gonna make the liberals cry their liberal tears attitude, which kind of is transcends everything for them. And the problem is, for the liberals is these are the kids who run the high school now, and they're stuffing your body into a locker every day. So you kind of have to talk to the deplorables, even if you think they're deplorable.

Except I don't think the people you're saying are the cool kids are the cool kids anymore. I think they are getting themselves stuffed in a locker every day. So it's a little bit different. It's really interesting because tech people do this a lot. They're the victims when they're the richest and most powerful, powerful people in the world. And so you often get that dynamic of they always feel hurt about something or victimized in some way, and they're in no way victims. In fact, they're quite the opposite. And so every, to me, a lot of times, every accusation is a confession.

So Mark Zuckerberg, speaking about somebody you write a lot about, he's talking this week about AI companionship, which I fund. You know, we're talking about all these issues that have to do with what happens this month and next month. Maybe this is really the big issue that this kind of thing, he says new programming interface for its AI models. He's talking about the fact that too many, too few Americans have a lot of friends. He said this could help make up for the friends Americans wish they had. I don't want to live in this world where my friend is RD2. I really don't.

I. I think he had a bigger problem. I thought you were going to ask about his interview with Theo Vaughn where he talks about how he raw dogs reality, but. Ok, we'll move on from there. I don't think he knew what the word raw dog was, but I do. One of the things that he talks about is these AI agents that are going to be your friends, they're going to be your agents. Agentic is a word. All the tech people were. They made a new word, agentic. And they will be your friends, they will do things.

You're using agents as a model.

Agentic. Yes.

Whoa.

Yes. It's a new word. Now you have it. It's ridiculous. But what the idea is that they will be your friends, say a companion for an older person. And in some ways you could see that. The problem Mark faces, including this amazing Wall Street Journal article this week, was they're testing it and making it very aggressive and sexual at the same time. And some of it has gotten through to kids and so they have to be very careful if they're saying the friend.

Sexual.

Yes. And including celebrities at some point. Like they sign deals with a bunch of celebrities and these bots can get sexual with you at night.

Well, I know when they created the metaverse, and by the way, it's gone. What happened to that? Remember the metaverse, where you put the thing on and we were all. I mean, Zuckerberg was so in on it, though. He renamed the company Meta because he thought we were all going to live in this world. Oh, I'm riding a unicorn at work. And you know.

Which you did.

What happened? What happened was that it got infiltrated by a bunch of horny guys who were, who were cyber fondling the women and stuff like, I mean, but there.

[Kevin McCarthy]

Are benefits to it. Not that for any. Benefit.

[Bill Maher]

From education. Yes, education.

[Kevin McCarthy]

Like you can train people to be electricians, doctors and other things. No one's gonna live in that. But look, I'm a believer. AI's part all the way here, it's in your phone and everywhere else. I want AI to come and fix the things we've already screwed up, help our healthcare, help our logistics and others. But this having some Sex bot for it, you know? This is crazy. I know.

[Bill Maher]

Like, the Internet goes.

[Kevin McCarthy]

Well, that's when the Internet started.

[Bill Maher]

When it started, it was gonna be everything. We're all gonna be together and we're all gonna. Going to be friends with everybody. And then it turned into what it turned into.

I think a sex bot is less harmful than a friend bot. Yeah, I mean, what. I mean, sex is a.

You know, as long as you're of age.

Sure, Right. Well, I mean, you masturbate before you're of age.

Fair.

What's the difference? But a friend is for life, and a friend is real. Sex doesn't have to be real.

Okay, I'm good.

You see what I'm saying? I think it's more. Much more dangerous. Much more dangerous to think that you can have friends who are not human.

Yeah, but that's gonna happen. These things are.

[Kevin McCarthy]

You're gonna have crazy things happen to you. I mean, today they have it on, catfishing people. Cause they think somebody's. There's not human. But. Yeah, but look, whoever captures AI and quantum first is gonna have an advantage over other countries. And so what we have to do is be smart about it. There's guidelines you can do, but you're never gonna get AI unless you get the energy policy.

[Bill Maher]

Yes, but there's certain things we can have, like protect children from sex bots. I don't know. I feel like you could win.

[Kevin McCarthy]

I don't think that's partisan. I think that's an easy place to get to.

[Bill Maher]

Sure, but the way the sex robots need rare earth minerals to work.

Right, exactly. And the idea, the thing that.

[Kevin McCarthy]

But you know what they really need?

[Bill Maher]

No, no, that's. That's, you know what, your sex box.

[Kevin McCarthy]

They need a permitting process that they could actually produce it in America instead of relying on China. That's what they need.

[Bill Maher]

Yeah, but sexpocs don't exist. But let's not go into that. It's one of the things they have to do is this argument that tech made is, we've got to beat China. We've got to be. That's always. It's the. I called it the Xi or me argument. And Mark Zuckerberg made it to me many years ago in an interview, and he was essentially saying. I said, is that Xi or me? And he said, essentially, yes. And I said, do I have a different choice than any of those two? Because we have to be ahead against China in this thing, but it has to be in a way that's safe and that people can really use Helpfully versus all the incredibly bad things that can go wrong.

[Kevin McCarthy]

Yeah, but it has so many good. I mean, curing cancer, detecting cancer before you.

[Bill Maher]

We're still here in the 21st century.

So wrap it up now and go to Newell. Okay, new rule.

Now that Chubby Checker has been inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame, the hall must issue an apology to any recording artist who didn't make it in and recorded more than one. So.

Because here's a list of Chubby's records. Twist with Chubby Checker.

Twist along with Chubby Checker. Your twist.

Party with Chubby Checker.

For twisters only.

For teen twisters only.

Twistin round the world. Don't knock the twist. Let's twist again and still twist it.

I mean, it was a good song.

But Chubby has to admit that the twist isn't a real dance. There's no steps.

There's just this. That's not a dance.

It's what old Asian ladies do in the park for exercise.

New rule.

Instead of saying that the $67 million super plane that fell off the side of one of our aircraft carriers this week was lost at sea. Just say it was promoted to submarines.

And then to artificial reef.

And don't say it happened because they were evading some Houthis, because that's totally different than being chased. It's more like when you see your ex in a store. Never had a high hopes for that one. All right, Newell. If you read the headline like I did, that said Meghan Markle reveals why she and Prince Harry call each other M and H, don't get your hopes up. Yes, it could be because there's a fascinating royal tradition that dates back to the days of King Henry viii, but it's not. It's because their names start with M. And.

I know there's a lot of.

Volatility in the world right now, but one thing you can always count on is that Harry and Meghan will never, ever be interesting. New rule. Dodge has to make a TV commercial bragging about.

How the Pope chose a.

Dodge Ram as his final popemobile. That's right. Popemobiles in the past have been made by Mercedes, Fiat, Toyota, Jeep and Renault. But when Francis needed to pick a car maker for his last swing around Vatican City, he chose Ram. Tough.

Ready for the hard jobs.

Whether it's hauling plywood or ferrying the Vicar of Christ to the pearly gates.

Pope Francis doing more for American manufacturing.

Dead than Trump is doing alive. New rule. The climber who had to be airlifted from near the summit of Mount Fuji because of altitude sickness, then returned four.

Days later because he thought he lost.

His phone there and went back.

And.

Then had to be rescued again.

He must be taken back up to.

Mount Fuji and thrown into the volcano where his last words will be shit, no service.

And finally, new rule.

Before they can take on Donald Trump, Democrats have to decide which wing of their own party is best to lead them out of the wilderness. And when I say that, I'm sure you can all guess what recent incident in the news. I'm thinking about the season eight finale of Love is Blind. Now, if you didn't see it, well, first of all, fuck you. It's absolutely the best dating show with Love and Blind in the title. But here's what happened. The bride, an impressive, attractive nurse named Sarah Carton, walked out on her dream wedding to sales consultant Ben Mazinga. They were at the altar all dressed up almost to the part where they eat cake and, and do the electric slide when Sarah broke the news to her man that she just couldn't go through with it. Had he cheated on her? Abused her? Was he a folk singing Irish vampire? No, it was because of Black Lives Matter. Because if there's one thing we know about the young liberal women of today, it's that they are very, very high in their standards about everything. And Ben, while no racist, had not. Well, he had not done the work on this issue.

When I asked him about it, he.

Was like, I guess I've never really thought too much about it. And that's when Sarah realized she'd rather die alone. Because love isn't blind, it's woke. Well now, to be fair to Sarah, it wasn't just Black Lives Matter. Ben also didn't have much to say about the vaccine and his position on trans was basically, I don't know, I guess Sarah's sister is gay. And when she told that to Ben, Ben said he had, quote, no discomfort around that community at all.

Not good enough.

Ben, I think what you meant to say is fuck yeah, I fucking love it.

Let me.

Let me tell you folks, if the standards on the left are going to be this high and politics is going to be this much of a cock block, we're never going to win elections or have any more babies. This inclination from certain liberals to always and immediately excommunicate instead of communicate is what makes them so unlikable. And I'm sorry, Sarah, to make you the poster child for this, but come on, I mean, look at this stiff. What did you expect? Okay. Hey, you're a much better person than he is. You win. And by win, I mean lose. Christ. First, we couldn't date people who had opposite political beliefs. Now we can't even date them if they have no opinion at all. It's enough to make you lose faith in finding true love on a reality streaming series. Because if you're going to eliminate every 20 something who hasn't thought a lot about politics, you're gonna be working from a smaller pool than roadies with no leg tattoos. And let's be clear, Ben didn't say, you know, I have thought about Black Lives Matter and I'm with Derek Chauvin. No, he said, I'm young and dumb and full of fantasy football stats. Could we just talk about it? I'm sorry, I'm not up to the part of my life yet where I give a shit about the issues. Should he? Of course. We all should do a lot of things. I should meditate and finish Moby Dick and learn to get to sleep without a gummy. But maybe Ben hasn't turned his life over to being a social justice warrior yet because he's preoccupied with trying to get his life going. Possibly because he's worried about having the means to support the woman he thought he was going to marry, who seems rather demanding and particular. Which is kind of how it is these days. Did you know that on Bumble, only 15% of the women are willing to date a man under 5 foot 8? Wow, women. They're like roller coasters. Now you must be this tall to ride them. And that's not all. The guy must also have a nice car and make over 100k a year. Okay, but you know how many 6 foot 2 grand prix drivers are there? I know you've all been told that you can have it all and you're a queen and a lady boss and that bitch, but maybe your judgy ass is no prize either.

And if you.

And if you jilked a guy for not thinking enough about Black Lives Matter, just tell me this. What have you actually done that made any more of a difference in any black life than what your inadequate ex fiance did? I asked Senator Adam Schiff here last week when the subject of Trump's sliding poll numbers came up. Okay, but how are the Democrats going to blow it this time? This is how posturing purity tests the politics of I unfriend you if you're not exactly with me 1000%. Barack Obama used to preach that the perfect is the enemy of the good. Yeah, it's also the enemy at getting laid.

All right, that's our show. I want to thank my guests, Kevin McCarthy, Kara Swisher, and Cheech and Chung. All right. Club Random drops every Sunday on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcast. Now go watch Overtime on YouTube. Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen.

Catch all new episodes of Real Time with Bill Maher every Friday night at 10, or watch them anytime on HBO on Demand. For more information, log on to hbo.com.