Real Time with Bill Maher, Ep. #712

Guests: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Michael Moynihan, Dan Farah
Date: November 1, 2025

Overview

In this Halloween episode, Bill Maher dives into the political and cultural issues dominating America. The discussion covers government dysfunction, the possibility and consequences of “national divorce,” skyrocketing healthcare costs, America’s loyalty to President Trump, national security—including UFOs (aka UAPs), nuclear testing, and the socioeconomic divide. With characteristic irreverence and sharp wit, Maher is joined by documentary filmmaker Dan Farah, journalist Michael Moynihan, and controversial Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
The episode’s tone is candid, combative, and laced with signature humor, but also seeks common ground on certain policy frustrations.

Key Segments and Insights

1. Opening Monologue: Halloween and Washington Dysfunction

[01:16 - 08:25]

• Bill kicks off with jokes about the show's Halloween setting and political events in DC, focusing on the government shutdown, food stamps running out, and the recurring farce in partisan politics.
• “They're playing a game of chicken in Washington…people's cards are going to show up and there’s going to be nothing there to buy food. This is not funny.” (Maher, 03:20)
• Points out President Trump’s focus on foreign issues and entertaining remarks on his global trips.
• Satirizes the language about January 6th and current administration’s restrictive rhetoric: “No riot. Don’t say mob...it couldn’t have been a riot because they were white.” (Maher, 07:12)

2. Interview: Dan Farah and the UFO/UAP Phenomenon

[08:25 - 21:00]

Six “Observables” of UAPs

• Farah lists flight characteristics reported in military encounters: instantaneous acceleration, anti-gravity, trans-medium travel, and hypersonic velocity.
  • “These things are doing things that we can’t do. Our most advanced aircraft can’t operate this way…in our most sensitive airspace.” (Farah, 11:22)
• Maher wonders about the intent of these entities: “If they wanted you to be dead, you’d be dead by now.” (Maher, 12:15)

Nuclear Connection & Societal Readiness

• UAP sightings spike since the dawn of the nuclear era.
  • “I think the connection between nuclear weapons and UAP is fascinating. In line with our harnessing nuclear energy…UAP activity has increased.” (Farah, 13:12)
• Maher posits: Are AI and tech progress pushing us close to a “crossroads” with these entities?
  • “They seem to have technology to turn off or on our nuclear weapons.” (Maher, 15:24)

Government Secrecy & Reverse Engineering

• Farah reveals: UAP crash retrieval and reverse engineering programs exist in the U.S. and possibly adversarial nations.
  • “Some in my film refer to it as the Manhattan Project on steroids…the stakes are so high, but the public has no idea.” (Farah, 19:47)
• Discussion on whether even presidents are fully informed; Sen. Rubio in his film suggests they're not.

Notable Quote

• “Would you, if you were an advanced non-human intelligent species, want us showing up on your front lawn?” (Farah, 20:50)

3. Panel: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Michael Moynihan, and the State of the Nation

[21:00 - 46:16]

Polarization & “National Divorce”

• Maher presses Greene on her previous call for a “peaceful national divorce.”
  • “No really…I hope you were just having a bad day when you said that.” (Maher, 22:17)
  • Greene shares: “If you had all the death threats I have…maybe we want a divorce.” (Greene, 22:34)
  • Both sides agree: the discourse is broken, but division isn’t viable, especially in diverse states.

On Having Difficult Conversations

• Maher: “You said we can't even talk to the left, but you’re talking to me right now.” (Maher, 24:02)
• Greene: “This is the first time I’ve been invited to your show. So…and I showed up.” (Greene, 24:14)

Healthcare Frustrations: Obamacare and Premiums

[25:15 - 31:00]

• Greene rails against skyrocketing premiums and the failure of both parties to offer real solutions.
  • “When Obamacare went into place, it took my own family’s health insurance policy from $800 to over $2,400 a month—more than our mortgage.” (Greene, 26:44)
• Michael Moynihan agrees: “I didn’t expect I’d come on and say I agree with Marjorie Taylor Greene, but I do on this issue.” (Moynihan, 27:38)
• Price transparency becomes a point of consensus.
  • “We need price transparency. You’re never told on the front end how much this is going to cost; that’s unacceptable.” (Greene, 29:09)
• Maher pushes back, reminding that more Americans gained coverage via Obamacare, and the “mythical” perfect plan has never materialized.

Government Failure & Lobbyist Influence

• Greene: Congress is the real failure—both parties, lobbyists, and lack of innovation trap the system: “They sit in their camps and never come together to come up with real solutions.” (Greene, 31:00)

Food Stamps, Government Shutdown, and Political Gamesmanship

[34:47 - 37:39]

• Approx. 42 million may lose food stamp benefits due to shutdown gridlock.
  • “The American people are being used like a pinata in this situation. They should just do it.” (Greene, 35:34)
• Moynihan emphasizes bipartisan blame: “They're playing chicken with 42 million people. 15% seems too high for Congress’ approval rating at this point.” (Moynihan, 36:40)

America First, Foreign Aid, and Trade Policy

[37:08 - 46:16]

• Greene: “I'm so far America First, I'm America Only right now. I want good trade, but I don’t want to be involved in their foreign wars or bailouts.” (Greene, 37:16)
• Maher connects foreign trade and home economics, noting presidential preference for world stage over domestic headaches.
• On rising cost-of-living and inflation, Greene credits Trump’s anti-war stance, critiques Biden-era inflation, but concedes: “I do give the President a lot of credit” for current inflation rates falling.(Greene, 39:39)
• Discussion moves to COVID shutdowns’ economic effects, impact on younger generations’ optimism.

4. Rapid-fire Policy: Nuclear Testing, Venezuela, China

[41:23 - 46:16]

• Nuclear Testing: Greene comes out firmly against it: “I would vote no to that. I’m very much against nuclear testing…world peace is the most important thing we can strive for.” (Greene, 42:06)
• Venezuela: Panel critiques planned strikes and lack of transparency/oversight in war policy.
  • Moynihan: “If he doesn’t like war, he’s not doing a good job showing it right now.” (Moynihan, 42:48)
• China and Tariffs: Greene underscores the need for trade predictability and reciprocity, but flags challenges U.S. manufacturers face.
  • “Tariffs are important…but companies need time. If tariffs are continually going up and down…they can’t plan over six months or a year.” (Greene, 45:09)

5. New Rules & Closing Monologue: Ghost Brands and Political Warnings

[46:16 - End]

• Maher’s “New Rules” segment lampoons American culture (fat animal contests, streaming service mergers, targeted toilet paper ads).
• His closing metaphor: “ghost brands”—businesses and political parties (notably, the Democratic Party) that retain a shell of former effectiveness:
  • “I fear the Democratic Party is at risk of becoming a ghost brand, too. Like Sears, it used to be mighty…Now even as Trump is turning 250 years of democracy into jean shorts…the Democrats have their lowest rating in 35 years…”
  • Draws a parallel with brands like Sears, Playboy, and Cracker Barrel, warning that ignoring core fans and getting lost in elitism spells irrelevance.
  • “America needs two political parties, not one party and one Halloween store.” (Maher, 57:15)

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Maher on partisan division:
  “If there was an alien invasion…Democrats and Republicans would both try to recruit it to kill the other one.” (21:46)

• Greene on polarization:
  “If you had all the death threats I have…maybe we want a divorce.” (22:34)

• Moynihan on Obamacare subsidies:
  “The only thing they do is mask costs…the government is paying these enormous…completely outrageous [premiums].” (28:22)

• Farah on government secrecy:
  “There's a deeply hidden UAP crash retrieval program…some refer to it as the Manhattan Project on steroids…” (19:47)

• Maher closing monologue:
  “Democrats need to get their shit together because America needs two political parties—not one party and one Halloween store.” (57:15)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:16 – Bill Maher’s Halloween monologue and current events
• 08:31 – Interview with Dan Farah (UAPs, nuclear connection, reverse engineering)
• 21:00 – Panel introduction; discussion of “national divorce” and bipartisanship
• 25:15 – Obamacare and healthcare premiums debate
• 34:47 – Food stamps, shutdown, and Congress’ failures
• 41:23 – Military housing, nuclear testing, and Venezuela/China policy
• 46:16 – New Rules and closing “ghost brands/Democratic Party” monologue

Overall Tone & Flow

• Lively, irreverent, and vigorous, Maher sets a combative but occasionally conciliatory tone.
• The panel sparks both agreement and fierce disagreement, with surprising consensus (e.g., price transparency, anger at congressional gridlock) and continued sharp divides (healthcare, foreign policy, Trump loyalty).
• Through celebrity jokes and cultural satire, Maher maintains audience energy while underpinning his deeper critique of American institutions and norms.

This summary encapsulates the major themes, discussions, and humor of Episode #712, offering both detailed topical insight and a useful overview for those who missed the show.