Real Time with Bill Maher – Ep. #720: Paul Anka, Rep. Lauren Boebert, State Rep. James Talarico

Date: February 21, 2026
Host: Bill Maher
Guests: Paul Anka, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), State Rep. James Talarico (D-TX)

Episode Overview

This episode of "Real Time with Bill Maher" dives into the aftermath of a landmark Supreme Court ruling limiting presidential tariff authority, American checks and balances, culture war issues like Christian nationalism, generational changes in political confessions, and the lingering shadow of the Epstein case. Iconic singer-songwriter Paul Anka joins for a wide-ranging interview on his legendary career, while Representatives Lauren Boebert and James Talarico debate with Maher on law, faith, political polarization, and more. The episode closes with Maher’s signature "New Rules," targeting the State of the Union and the myth of presidential omnipotence.

Key Discussion Points & Timestamps

1. Supreme Court Rejects Trump Tariff Powers

[02:08 – 07:01]

• Supreme Court Decision: Bill Maher celebrates the Supreme Court finally limiting Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose tariffs without Congressional approval, joking, “Don’t fuck with the money.” (02:08)

• Maher on Trump’s Reaction: “He went batshit about it, of course... He’s such a Karen. Everything is, ‘I want to speak to the manager.’ And the Supreme Court said, ‘We’re the manager.’” (02:38)

• Interpretation of Checks and Balances: Talarico and Maher discuss how this shows that “the boat is leaky, but it ain't sunk.” (28:50)

Notable quote:

“I know how women feel now. A guy buys you dinner and then expects you to put out. Okay. I’m not that guy.” – Bill Maher (05:00)

2. Interview: Paul Anka on Legacy, Songwriting, and Reinvention

[08:33 – 22:14]

• On Longevity and Reinvention: Anka shares that “the gravitas of being the writer kicked in for me, and I realized that if you were the writer, you had a chance to last. And that’s what I did. I focused on the writing.” (10:03)

• Changing Music Industry: Maher points out that Anka was writing and performing his own material before Dylan and the Beatles, which revolutionized the industry. (11:18)

• Vegas, Rat Pack, and Staying in Shape: Anka discusses learning from Sinatra and the Vegas crowd — “I learned things. What not to do and what to do… I realized those guys who were the best, Sinatra, they were the best. The women I liked, I hung in there.” (13:00)

• Backstory on “My Way”: Anka reveals the origin, writing it for Sinatra, and rewriting it for world leaders as a gimmick. (16:14, 18:09)

  “...He said, ‘Kid, that’s my nickname, Kid. He said, I love it. I’m going to do it.’ Two months later, he called me from a studio in L.A. ...I heard ‘My Way’ for the first time. And it was such a hit for him. He stayed 10 more years.” – Paul Anka (16:34)

• Songwriting with Michael Jackson: Anka discusses co-writing “Love Never Felt So Good,” and having songs end up shelved until after Jackson's death. (19:00)

• Reworking Sinatra: Maher notes Anka’s revised lyric for “That’s Life,” ending on a positive note — “I’m going to get on a big bird and fly” instead of “roll myself up in a big ball and die.” (21:54)

3. Tariffs, the Courts, and Economic Pain

[22:34 – 28:50]

• Panel Reactions:

  • Boebert (R-CO): Argues the Supreme Court’s decision undermines Trump’s successful tariff strategy, suggesting unilateral presidential action is justified to protect America from being taken advantage of (24:53).
  • Talarico (D-TX): Praises checks and balances; counters that tariffs have increased costs for working families and that Trump has failed to address high prices (25:06).
  • Maher: Notes that tariffs cost the average American an extra $1,000, referencing studies (26:34).

• Boebert on Fees: Suggests renaming tariffs as “fees” to circumvent legal obstacles, referencing tactics used in Colorado (24:53).

4. Is America a Christian Nation?

[31:20 – 38:49]

• Maher on Western Civilization: Defends Enlightenment values—“rule of law, respect for minorities, democracy, scientific inquiry”—as central, not specifically Christian faith (31:24).

• Lauren Boebert: Argues America is founded on Judeo-Christian values, wants church to direct government, questions "separation of church and state" as not being a constitutional phrase (33:07).

  “...The government is... I'm tired of this separation of church and state junk.” – Lauren Boebert (33:16)

• James Talarico: Recounts his faith heritage, but emphasizes love for all, separation of church and state, and protection for all religions.

  “As Christians, we’re supposed to follow Jesus, two commandments: love God and love neighbor. No exception to that second commandment...” (34:44)

• Debate over School Indoctrination vs. Education:

  • Boebert: Laments modern sex ed, prefers Ten Commandments in schools. (36:54)
  • Talarico: Opposes religious or ideological indoctrination in any form; insists on educational neutrality. (37:40)

5. Political Confession Culture

[39:11 – 41:36]

• Satirical Segment: Maher mocks the political confession trend with fake podcast “admissions” from figures like Chris Christie, the Pope, Gavin Newsom, and Donald Trump, to riff on the demand for personal vulnerability from politicians now.

  “Sometimes I truth out long takedowns of my friends if they don’t text me back quickly enough.” – “Donald Trump” (fictional, 41:04)

6. Talarico’s Rise and Texas Politics

[41:48 – 45:08]

• Maher asks Talarico: Why are you catching fire? “I think we are trying to build a movement that includes Democrats, Independents, and Republicans to try to take back our state...” (42:21)
• Boebert’s Praise: Congratulates Talarico’s primary run, pivots to criticize opposing Democrat Jasmine Crockett as “so radical, so extreme.” (44:05)
• Talarico: Emphasizes need to end one-party rule, calling it a recipe for extremism regardless of party. (45:11)

7. Epstein Files & QAnon

[45:19 – 48:56]

• Maher: Admits QAnon was more correct about elite sexual abuse than he thought, but “Democrats don’t eat babies.”
• Boebert: Suggests unsettling elements in QAnon, but says she isn’t a QAnon follower. (46:01)
• Talarico: Criticizes Trump’s connection to Epstein, notes records list Trump 38,000 times. (47:03)
• Boebert: Credits Trump for releasing files, laments DOJ redactions, expresses desire for further transparency. (48:19)
• Maher: Notes Trump could have been honest and saved himself trouble by not lying about knowing Epstein. (48:08)

8. New Rules & Closing Monologue: State of the Union—A Flawed Ritual

[49:06 – End]

• “New Rules” segment satirizes the Girl Scout cookie record, women seeking husbands at comic cons, and Facebook’s new AI “afterlife.”

• Closing Rant – The State of the Union:

  • Maher calls for abolishing the State of the Union address, critiquing its transformation into a “bitchin’” royal wish list that enforces the imperial presidency myth. (53:17)
  • Constitutional Literacy: Stresses that Congress, not the President, should be the “star” of U.S. democracy:

    “The President is at most up for best Supporting Actor.” (54:24)

  • Decries Congress’s abdication of war power and how public confusion on executive power is reinforced by the SOTU spectacle:

    “Americans think the President controls the price of eggs... the paths of hurricanes.” (54:41)

  • Concludes that the SOTU is embarrassing in its divisiveness and unnecessary pomp. (58:37)

Notable Quotes

• Bill Maher: “The boat is leaky, but it ain't sunk.” (28:50)
• Paul Anka: “The gravitas of being the writer kicked in for me... If you were the writer, you had a chance to last.” (10:03)
• Lauren Boebert: “I'm tired of this separation of church and state junk.” (33:16)
• James Talarico: "Forcing my religion down their throats is not love. And the only other thing I’ll add, America is not a Christian nation. It is a nation where you are free to be a Christian or any of those other faiths or no faith at all." (35:44)
• Bill Maher’s closing monologue: “The star of this movie we call American Democracy is Congress. The President is at most up for best Supporting Actor.” (54:24)

Episode Flow & Tone

• Energetic and irreverent: Maher’s style permeates the episode, combining satire, biting commentary, and engagement with guests from sharply opposed ideological backgrounds.
• Candid and confessional: From Anka’s tales of music legends to political introspection from Boebert and Talarico, the episode features personal and political vulnerability.
• Debate-focused: Boebert and Talarico spar but also find fleeting common ground, particularly on the value of religious liberty and the limits of government.
• Consistently topical: Touches on Supreme Court, presidential powers, tariffs, religious education, political polarization, and the cult of personality in politics.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Supreme Court / Tariffs: 02:08 – 07:01
• Paul Anka Interview: 08:33 – 22:14
• Boebert vs. Talarico Tariff Debate: 22:34 – 28:50
• Christian Nationalism / Church & State: 31:20 – 38:49
• Confession Culture Satire: 39:11 – 41:36
• Texas Politics / Talarico’s Campaign: 41:48 – 45:08
• Epstein & QAnon Segment: 45:19 – 48:56
• New Rules & State of the Union Rant: 49:06 – End

Summary prepared for those who want in-depth insight without having listened.