Real Time with Bill Maher

Episode #714 – Scott Galloway, Fareed Zakaria, Josh Barro
Original Air Date: November 15, 2025

Episode Overview

This lively episode of Real Time with Bill Maher grapples with big themes: the continuing fallout from the Epstein files, men in crisis, the state of the Democratic Party, Trump’s mounting problems, and healthcare reforms. With guest Scott Galloway (NYU business professor and author), Fareed Zakaria (CNN host), and Josh Barro (NYT contributor), Maher and his panel examine societal shifts, political dysfunction, and the intersection of culture and policy. The discussion is characteristically sharp, with Maher’s irreverence guiding conversations on serious subjects with both depth and humor.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Opening Monologue – The Neverending Epstein Files

Starts ~01:01

• Maher riffs on the persistent reemergence of Jeffrey Epstein-related scandals.

  • Critiques both parties' use of the Epstein files: “When you get elected, they give you your security badge, the key to your office, and here's your box of Epstein files. They just release them endlessly. They're like beetle tracks from the vaults.” (03:00)
  • Notes the ongoing political tit-for-tat: Democrats release damaging docs on Trump, Republicans counter with their own.
  • Jokes about the circular nature of scandals and political distractions.

• Trump's role:

  • Maher points out that according to an AI study, Trump is mentioned 1,500 times in Epstein’s emails.
  • Trump's strategy is to counter with investigations into Bill Clinton’s involvement, using the same files for diversion.

• Economic issues as political liabilities:

  • Acknowledges rising prices and Trump's falling approval: “His approval rating has now dropped into the 30s… I wouldn't want to be Venezuela.” (06:45)
  • Notes Trump’s mixed messaging on tariffs and commodities.

2. Interview: Scott Galloway on the ‘Crisis of Men’

Starts ~08:44

Statistics & Social Trends

• Galloway argues men are in unprecedented crisis:
  • “If you walk into a morgue and there's five people who died by suicide, four are men.” (09:09)
  • Men are three times more likely to be homeless or addicted, 12 times more likely to be incarcerated.
  • 30% of men under 25 and 20% of men by age 30 still live at home.

Root Causes

• Big Tech and Male Isolation:

  • Galloway: “We’ve unwittingly built an economy which is dependent upon our ability to evolve a new species of asocial, asexual males.” (10:35)
  • Cites Big Tech’s mission to “get you as glued to a screen for as long as possible,” disproportionately affecting young men.

• The Impact of Porn, Screens, and Avoidance:

  • “The less time you spend watching porn, the more likely you are to be the star of your own porn.” (13:10)
  • Argues young men are withdrawing from real-life experiences due to fear of rejection and easier virtual alternatives.

• Lack of Social and Romantic Relationships:

  • 45% of men 18–24 have never asked a woman out in person; 63% of men under 30 aren’t pursuing relationships.
  • “Men need relationships more than women. Widows are happier after their husband dies. Widowers are less happy.” (18:11–18:20)
  • One in four men can't name a best friend.

Solutions & Social Lubricants

• Galloway: Calls for a revival of codes of conduct and risk-taking, advocating men embrace social discomfort and even a bit of “drinking more” to overcome social hurdles.
  • “The risk to your 25-year-old liver is dwarfed by the risk of social isolation… In sum, get out, drink more, and make a series of bad decisions that might pay off.” (20:14)

Memorable Banter

• Maher’s take: “The number one thing men are afraid of is girls. It’s not fucking lightning, it’s girls.” (13:37)
• On relationships: “Can I not be a man because I didn’t make a baby with a lady?” (18:28)

3. Panel: Trump’s Bad Week, Conspiracy Theories, and the Shutdown

Panel starts ~21:14

The Epstein Fallout & Trump’s Desperation

• Zakaria on Trump's political base:

  • “There was nothing Trump could do that would affect his base... It seems that there’s at least not cracks, maybe the beginnings of some tremors.” (24:39)
  • Notes how Trump is now caught in the fallout of conspiracy theories he fostered.

• Josh Barro, pragmatic take:

  • “I’m not a conspiracy theory guy... I still think Epstein killed himself.... I don’t think [the scandals] will fundamentally change his political position.” (26:13, 31:47)
  • Trump is panicking because of the deteriorating economy and food stamp controversies, not primarily because of Epstein.

• Maher & Panel on Trump Fatigue and the QAnon Effect

  • Maher: “You can’t gaslight people… they know how much money they have.” (23:15)
  • Zakaria and Barro argue most truths about Trump’s lurid behavior are already priced into voters’ expectations.

The Economy, Prices, and Political Consequences

• Discussion of Trump’s mixed signals on tariffs—“When he put the tariffs on, he vociferously argued it was not going to raise prices. So wait, if it didn’t raise prices, why are you cutting them to lower prices?” – Zakaria (32:55)
• Barro: The real turning point for Trump’s approval has been economic dissatisfaction, especially post-shutdown.

Memorable Moments

• Maher: “Why try to squash it [the Epstein files] so much then?... After all these times, what the fuck is left?” (31:16–31:47)
• Zakaria: “Mostly incompetence is a better explanation of most of this weird stuff than conspiracy theories.” (27:25)

4. Panel: Democratic Failings and the Shutdown Outcome

Starts ~33:17

Critique of Democratic Governance

• Maher quotes Barro’s article 'Why Democrats Keep Flailing':

  • “Affordability is really worse in government, if that’s your issue. Affordability. It’s worse here and in New York and in places that are Democratic run. These are all true things they didn’t solve.” (36:59)
  • Discussion of homeless spending in California ($24 billion with little result), excessive safety regulations in NYC (scaffolding everywhere).

• Zakaria on ‘Safety Industrial Complex’:

  • “So you’ve created the safety industrial complex.” (38:06)

Shutdown as a Democratic “Win”?

• Barro argues the Democrats actually won, as public anger over food stamp interruptions harmed Trump’s poll numbers.

  • “They even told states that they weren’t allowed to make the food stamp payments with their own money.” (38:53)

• Fareed Zakaria’s warning:

  • Warns about the Trump budget: “The Congressional Budget Office says it will throw 11 million people off healthcare. It is going to take people off Medicaid....” (40:42)

5. Healthcare and Ozempic Debate

Starts ~42:06

• Maher, Barro, and Zakaria on Trump’s healthcare strategy (“Trumpcare” = $2,000 cash for everyone), critiquing its lack of sustainability.

  • “No plan works in health care unless you make the young buy it when they don’t need it so that later on... it will be there for you. This is how a society works.” – Maher (42:55)

• Barro on the challenge: “People find it to be a bad value in significant part because we have the highest prices in the world.” (43:23)

• The rising role of weight-loss drugs:

  • Barro shares his experience with Wegovy: “I’ve been on Wegovy for two years and I’ve lost almost 40 pounds.” (45:32)
  • Zakaria: “So much of America’s health problem is obesity that if you actually... have this drug that brings down obesity, it actually could be a magic drug for healthcare costs as well.” (47:43)
  • Panel agrees on the potential for costs to come down and benefit more Americans, but side effects and access remain issues.

6. New Rules Segment

Starts ~48:07

• Maher’s satirical takes include:

  • Noting absurdities of American life and Democratic politics
  • On Democratic Socialism: “Thing is, socialism will fuck you because socialism, to put it simply, just doesn't work and has never worked.” (~54:00)
  • “Gen Z thinks socialism’s wired and capitalism’s tired and billionaires are what’s for dinner. And who can blame them if you’re 30 and still sharing a bathroom with roommates. Capitalism isn’t working for you.” (~53:50)

• On Democrats’ Identity Crisis:

  • Contrasts successes of centrists like Abigail Spanberger with the left’s push for democratic socialism.
  • Calls for the party to move to the center, referencing moderate successes in Trump-won districts.

• Memorable Quote:

  • “We’ve had enough of Trump’s macho bullshit and also enough of pussy politics.” – Maher (~56:35)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Scott Galloway:
  • “We can recognize the immense challenges non-whites and women still face while recognizing that no group has fallen further faster than young men.” (09:09)
  • “Get out, drink more, and make a series of bad decisions that might pay off.” (20:14)
• Bill Maher:
  • “The number one thing men are afraid of is girls. It’s not fucking lightning, it’s girls.” (13:37)
  • “Can I not be a man because I didn’t like make a baby with a lady?” (18:28)
  • “You can’t gaslight people… they know how much money they have.” (23:15)
• Fareed Zakaria:
  • “Mostly incompetence is a better explanation of most of this weird stuff than conspiracy theories.” (27:25)
  • “The Congressional Budget Office says it will throw 11 million people off healthcare.” (40:42)
  • “If you have this drug that brings down obesity, it actually could be a magic drug for healthcare costs as well.” (47:43)
• Josh Barro:
  • “I’m not a conspiracy theory guy... I still think Epstein killed himself.” (26:13)
  • “People find [health insurance] to be a bad value in significant part because we have the highest prices in the world.” (43:23)
  • “I’ve been on Wegovy for two years and I’ve lost almost 40 pounds.” (45:32)

Conclusion

This episode combines biting humor with sobering social commentary. Scott Galloway’s exploration of the male crisis, paired with the panel’s deep dives into political dysfunction and economic malaise, draw a portrait of a nation struggling with both identity and pragmatism. Maher pushes for sanity-in-the-middle, warning Democrats against extremes. The show’s energy is high, balancing incisive analysis with well-timed laughs—a trademark of Real Time’s enduring appeal.