Overtime – Episode #690: Rikki Schlott, John McWhorter

Summary

Real Time with Bill Maher - Overtime Episode #690: Rikki Schlott, John McWhorter
Release Date: April 1, 2025

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1. Introduction and Panel Overview

Bill Maher welcomes listeners to the HBO podcast of Real Time with Bill Maher. He introduces the episode's panelists: John McWhorter, an opinion writer for The New York Times and author of "Pronoun Trouble," and Ricky Schaffer, a columnist for the New York Post and author of "The Canceling of the American Mind."

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2. Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett’s Remarks

The conversation kicks off with a discussion about Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett referring to Texas Governor Greg Abbott as "Governor Hot Wheels," a nickname playing on his use of a wheelchair.

• Bill Maher ([01:20]): Highlights a trend among Democratic figures toward increased informality, likening it to introducing "ghetto cat fight" dynamics into formal spaces like Congress. He criticizes Crockett for making light of Governor Abbott's disability, noting, "If she thinks that being black and fabulous gives her a pass on that, then she's got a really unfortunate sense of what black is."

• John McWhorter ([02:08]): Expresses understanding of the intent behind the remark but questions its appropriateness.

• Ricky Schaffer ([02:11]): Argues that such tactics mirror the "MAGA world" strategies and warns that the Democratic Party may lose credibility if it engages in "cheap shots." He emphasizes the need for Democrats to maintain normalcy and integrity rather than stooping to lower tactics.

• John McWhorter ([02:34]): References "Family Guy" humorously, suggesting that while making jokes about disabilities in cartoons is acceptable, doing so in real life lacks the same shield, leading to dismissive hostility.

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3. Public Broadcasting and Allegations of Bias

The panel shifts focus to recent testimonies by leaders of NPR and PBS before Congress amid accusations of liberal bias, questioning the continuation of taxpayer funding for public broadcasters.

• John McWhorter ([03:37]): Provides background on Republican efforts to defund PBS, labeling NPR as "crazy far left." He criticizes the polarization that has rendered public broadcasting untenable, suggesting it should become privatized.

• Bill Maher ([04:50]): Shares his long-term appreciation for NPR but acknowledges a perceived shift away from general audience content since 2020. Recounts an anecdote where his daughter criticized NPR for its repetitive negative narratives, indicating a decline from its former balance.

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4. Declining Interest in Marriage Among Young Women

The discussion moves to societal trends, specifically the increasing number of women giving up on marriage.

• John McWhorter ([05:58]): Introduces the topic and humorously reflects on personal perspectives regarding marriage.

• Ricky Schaffer ([06:15]): Analyzes the issue by pointing out the "massive disconnect between the genders" in his generation. He attributes the decline in marriage interest to political polarization, the rise of dating apps, internet culture, and phenomena like "incels" and "trad wives," making it challenging for young people to find compatible partners.

• John McWhorter ([06:54]): Adds that the inability to maintain eye contact contributes to relationship difficulties.

• Bill Maher ([07:19]): Shares a personal preference for his current age over youth, despite its challenges.

• John McWhorter ([07:34]): Agrees, mentioning the advantages of maturity, such as better interpersonal skills, while acknowledging the complexities of the current era.

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5. The Future of AI in Professions

A significant portion of the conversation delves into the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on various professions, spurred by a news story where Bill Gates predicts that AI will take over roles like doctors and teachers within a decade.

• John McWhorter ([07:50]): References the news headline about Bill Gates' prediction that AI will replace humans in most jobs, questioning the prioritization of such stories.

• Ricky Schaffer ([08:35]): Expresses concern over Silicon Valley's influence, criticizing tech leaders for being "antisocial" and "not particularly pro-human." He fears their control over AI technology could negatively shape the future, leading to increased nihilism among young people uncertain about job prospects.

• John McWhorter ([09:14]): Notes Mark Zuckerberg's shifting stance on AI's capabilities, highlighting the uncertainty and fear surrounding widespread job displacement.

• Bill Maher ([09:25]): Offers a nuanced perspective by acknowledging the challenges of the teaching profession and pondering whether AI could effectively address teacher shortages. He contemplates the potential benefits of AI in education, despite ongoing debates about teaching methodologies and teacher quality.

• John McWhorter ([10:19]): Brings up the ethical concerns related to AI in education, such as inappropriate relationships between students and teachers, hinting at broader societal implications.

• Bill Maher ([10:32]): Concludes the discussion, emphasizing the complexity and urgency of addressing AI's role in shaping the future workforce.

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6. Closing Remarks

Bill Maher wraps up the episode by promoting future episodes of Real Time with Bill Maher, available every Friday night at 10 PM on HBO and on HBO On Demand.

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Notable Quotes

• Bill Maher on Jasmine Crockett's remarks ([01:54]): "If she thinks that being black and fabulous gives her a pass on that, then she's got a really unfortunate sense of what black is."

• Ricky Schaffer on Democratic tactics ([02:11]): "I think this is just an example of when they go low, we go lower."

• John McWhorter on AI news prioritization ([07:50]): "Your thoughts?"

• Bill Maher on AI in teaching ([09:25]): "I don't pump her full of things like this. She said from the back seat in a very different car, she said, daddy, why is it that NPR is always playing the same thing?"

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Conclusion

In this episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, the panelists engage in a robust discussion covering political decorum, the state of public broadcasting, societal shifts in marriage trends, and the impending impact of AI on various professions. Through incisive commentary and a blend of humor and seriousness, Bill Maher, John McWhorter, and Ricky Schaffer provide listeners with thoughtful insights into contemporary issues shaping American society.

Transcript

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[Bill Maher]

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

[John McWhorter]

Okay, here we are with an opinion writer for the New York Times. His newest book is called pronoun trouble. John McWhorter and the New York Post columnist and author of the Canceling of the American Mind, Ricky Squad. Okay, all right. Look how good we must have done in the real show. All right, here are the questions from the people. What did the panel think of Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett calling Texas governor? Okay, she's from Texas. The governor, Greg Abbott, who is paralyzed and uses a wheelchair. She called him Governor Hot Wheels. I mean, what do you.

[Bill Maher]

Congressperson Crockett is part of the new trend where informality is okay, where formality used to reign. OK, fine. That's been going on since the 60s. So her routine is that she wants to bring a little bit of what I might quaintly call the ghetto cat fight into these spaces.

[John McWhorter]

I get it.

[Bill Maher]

You know, bring a blaxploitation movie or something into Congress.

[John McWhorter]

Great.

[Bill Maher]

Work it. But you do not make fun of the fact that somebody lives their life in a wheelchair.

[John McWhorter]

That doesn't work.

[Bill Maher]

If she thinks that being black and fabulous gives her a pass on that, then she's got a really unfortunate sense of what black is.

[John McWhorter]

Um, well, what do you think, Ricky?

[Ricky Schaffer]

I mean, I think this is just an example of when they go low, we go lower. And the Democratic Party is going to lose if they try to use kind of MAGA world tactics back at them. I think that if the Democrats want to succeed in the future, they need to be the party that is normal, that are standup people that do not take the cheap shots back.

[John McWhorter]

But I don't know. I'm not that upset about it. I'm really not. You know why? Because I'm a big fan of Family Guy and they have am I wrong? Every week. I mean, one of the characters, Joe the cop, is in a wheelchair. And every week there's 20 jokes about him being in a wheelchair and nobody died. And like, I just think everybody has to, like, lighten Up a little. Yeah, it's terrible to be in a wheelchair, but, you know, it's not like it's news to him. And I don't know. I'm a free speech.

[Bill Maher]

I adore Family Guy. I've seen every episode. But that wasn't a cartoon. This is real life. And she was saying it with dismissive hostility as opposed to the cartoonish, Ha, ha. We can get away with it because we're drawn. Jasmine CR Pocket is not drawn, and neither is Abbott. I see a distinction, although I see what you mean.

[John McWhorter]

Yeah. Okay. All right. The heads of NPR and PBS testified before Congress this week amid accusations of liberal bias. Should the government continue to send taxpayer dollars to public broadcasters? Well, a little background here. I mean, they've been after them for the Republicans have wanted to get rid of PBS for as long as I can remember. This crowd will probably do it. I mean, I also read my namesake, Catherine Marr was head of npr. And, you know, she said, we're completely unbiased. Give me a break, lady. I mean, they're crazy far left. So, I mean, I think we're past my view. We're past the age, really, where the government, first of all, why do we need to subsidize? Why can't we have outlets like this? And we're so polarized. These outlets became popular at a time when Republicans and Democrats didn't hate each other and weren't at each other's throats and didn't think each other was an existential threat. In that world, you can't have places like this, I think, anymore. They have to be private.

[Bill Maher]

Yeah, I think Yuri Berliner, ex NPR employer, his piece this week, whistleblower, where he said that they should just. They should just let go of the funding this. I love NPR. I listen to NPR almost every day. Have since 1975, when my parents used to play it in our Chevrolet Caprice when I was like nine years old. I love it for its point of view, but since 2020, it has no longer been general. I remember in 2021, my then 9 year old asked me, and of course, she has no sense of context. I don't pump her full of things like this. She said from the back seat in a very different car, she said, daddy, why is it that NPR is always playing the same thing? And I said, what do you mean the same thing? And I swear she said, now she doesn't have a vocabulary, but she said, it's always about how somebody can't do something. And what she was getting at was That I wouldn't have said that about the NPR that I knew back in the day, and I wouldn't have said it 10 years ago. But that is what it is now. I will listen to it daily, but it's no longer a general audience venue. They just give up national funding. Yeah.

[John McWhorter]

Okay. Ricky, why are more and more women giving up on marriage? Really? I swear to God, that's what it says. Why is that directed to you? Are you giving up on marriage? No. You're not?

[Ricky Schaffer]

No. I mean, I think, though. I think there's a massive disconnect between the genders in my generation. And young men are going to the right, young women are going to the left. It's hard to kind of meet in the middle. And there's a lot of hostility between the genders at the moment. And so just like, functionally, finding a mate is difficult for a lot of young people. And then you add in dating apps and Internet culture and incels and trad wives, and it's just a very confusing time. So I think maybe there are some people who are just dipping out. I'm not one of them. I know a lot of young women who are not against marriage, but are finding it very difficult to find a mate. And young men, too.

[John McWhorter]

Yeah. Well, there's also the fact that they can't look each other in the eye. Yeah, that's true. I am not upset about being in the older generation, Mom. I'm really not. The fact that I can look at a woman in the eye gives me a huge advantage.

[Bill Maher]

Look, I've come to enjoy. I enjoy no longer being young. I like this age. This is good. I like it. I'm only 39.

[John McWhorter]

Yeah. I mean, there are things about it that suck. Like, you know, you're old.

[Bill Maher]

Those things.

[John McWhorter]

Yeah. But I wouldn't go back if I had to have my brain that I had when I was 30 there making all those mistakes.

[Bill Maher]

Hell no.

[John McWhorter]

And I certainly wouldn't want to be in this era with, like you say, the incels. And everything happens on the.

[Bill Maher]

Oh, no, no.

[John McWhorter]

Yeah.

[Bill Maher]

No, this. No, no. It was better back then in some.

[John McWhorter]

By the way, I was reading my newsfeed today and like 20 stories down. This is the 20th story apparently important. Bill Gates said. Bill Gates says in 10 years, like, AI will probably do what doctors and teachers do. And then said humans won't be needed for most things. Is like the 20th most important story. Humans won't be needed for most things. Your thoughts?

[Ricky Schaffer]

I mean, I think there is something really concerning when you look at The Silicon Valley world. And a lot of these unelected tech leaders, a lot of them are kind of antisocial. They're not particularly pro human in any way. And somehow these people are in control of this technology that's going to radically shape our future. And it's extremely disturbing to see them now kind of cozy with the White House, cozy with politicians, in a way. And, I mean, I think a lot of young people are very nihilistic because it's impossible to even know what jobs are going to be realistic in the future. At first they were saying truck drivers are going to be the first ones at risk. And now it's like, no, actually, the knowledge economy people and the journalists are going to be the first ones at risk. Yeah.

[John McWhorter]

Zuckerberg said, you know, the coding, a lot of that will be done and very shortly by AI. Okay, but that's a lot of people.

[Ricky Schaffer]

And two seconds ago they were telling everyone, learn to code.

[John McWhorter]

Right?

[Bill Maher]

Yeah, you know, I don't. Teaching is hard and teaching well is hard. And there are always some people who are really devoted to it and are very good at it, but it's hard. We never have enough of them. We could never pay enough of them enough. Frankly, I don't know if it would be such a terrible thing if AI could teach well and we didn't have to deal with the teacher shortage. The fact that it's so hard to do it, the fact that ed schools are a mess, the fact that it's hard to agree on how to do it right. It never seems to really get better. How to teach. And the people who are really good at it often are unique people where there's no way to build up to scale what it is that they're uniquely gifted at doing. Teachers out there, I'm sorry to say this, but I think all of you know what I'm talking about. I'm not sure if it would be such a bad thing if there were a dependable way for AI to impart information to everybody. To be honest, that doesn't scare me.

[John McWhorter]

But what about the high school boys in Florida who are having sex with their hot teachers? What are they gonna do? All right, we gotta go. Thank you very much, everybody.

[Bill Maher]

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