Overtime – Episode #699: Ian Bremmer & Rutger Bregman

Summary

Real Time with Bill Maher: Overtime – Episode #699 with Ian Bremmer & Rutger Bregman

Release Date: June 17, 2025

In Episode #699 of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, host Bill Maher engages in a dynamic and thought-provoking conversation with two distinguished guests: Ian Bremmer, President and Founder of the Eurasia Group and Gzero Media, and Rutger Bregman, renowned author of Moral Ambition. This episode delves into various pressing topics, including journalistic integrity, the definition of ambition, New York's mayoral race, the role of former presidents, and the implications of controversial political statements.

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1. The Role of Journalism and Public Commentary

The episode opens with Maher addressing a recent controversy involving journalist Terry Moran's dismissal from ABC following his critical tweets about political figures. Maher expresses strong disapproval of Moran's approach, emphasizing the importance of impartiality in journalism.

• Bill Maher [01:31]:

  "He's a world class hater. You can see this just by looking at him because you can see that his hatreds are a spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate. This guy's a reporter. What the fuck?"

Rutger Bregman concurs, highlighting that while there are many professions where one might express strong opinions, journalism requires a higher standard of objectivity.

• Rutger Bregman [02:02]:

  "Journalism is not one of them."

Maher underscores the significance of unbiased reporting, distinguishing his show as a platform for new perspectives rather than breaking news.

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2. Defining Moral Ambition for Youth

Transitioning to a more positive discourse, Maher poses a question to Bregman and Bremmer about fostering ambition among young people to pursue careers that can effect meaningful global change.

• Rutger Bregman [02:05]:

  "Journalism, not one of them."

• Ian Bremmer [02:42]:

  "Moral ambition is just a desire to really use your career to make a massive difference. Right. To really take on the greatest challenges that we face as a species."

Bremmer elaborates on the concept of moral ambition, urging young individuals to consider the long-term historical impact of their careers. He emphasizes addressing significant issues such as animal treatment and transforming the global food system.

• Ian Bremmer [03:12]:

  "I would love to see if more talented people take that on and try and transform our food system."

---

3. New York Mayoral Race and Political Energy

The conversation shifts to the political landscape, specifically the mayoral race in New York. Maher and Bregman discuss the surge of a Democratic socialist candidate and its implications for the Democratic Party's direction.

• Bill Maher [03:25]:

  "The Democratic socialist candidate for mayor of New York is surging in the polls. What does this suggest about where the energy in the party is?"

Bregman initially suggests that Andrew Cuomo is leading, but Maher corrects this, referencing the Quinnipiac poll.

• Rutger Bregman [04:03]:

  "I just pulled that out of my butt."

The dialogue touches on the possibility of electing a Muslim mayor, drawing parallels to London’s mayor and discussing the importance of representation that aligns with Western values.

• Bill Maher [04:32]:

  "I would like to see that example for Muslims all over the world, a Muslim politician standing up for Western values."

Bremmer adds a pragmatic viewpoint, expressing indifference to the candidate's political or religious affiliations as long as they focus on rebuilding New York.

• Ian Bremmer [04:57]:

  "If he's the mayor, that's gonna make sure that you know we're gonna build again."

---

4. The Silence of Former Presidents

Maher raises a critical issue regarding the perceived silence of former presidents, particularly Barack Obama, in actively opposing former President Trump's behavior.

• Bill Maher [06:06]:

  "An Atlantic article this week asked where is Barack Obama? Should ex presidents be taking a more public stance against Trump's increasingly brazen behavior?"

Rutger Bregman responds by lamenting the lack of engagement from former leaders, advocating for their active participation in upholding democratic values and civic engagement.

• Rutger Bregman [06:19]:

  "It's unacceptable. I mean, you take that on its service and we need that service right now."

Maher reflects on the missed opportunities for unity and support between former Republican and Democratic presidents, contrasting it with the contentious nature of the current political climate.

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5. Trump's Proposal on Flag Burning and Freedom of Expression

A heated segment ensues when Maher seeks the panel’s opinions on former President Trump's assertion that individuals who burn the American flag should face a one-year jail sentence.

• Bill Maher [07:54]:

  "What does the panel think of Trump saying that people that burn the American flag should go to jail for one year?"

Maher expresses his stance, advocating for the symbolic interpretation of the flag rather than punitive measures against expression.

• Bill Maher [08:19]:

  "The flag is a symbol. It's actually, when I see a flag burning, it says to me, I live in a country with freedom."

Ian Bremmer highlights the negative spotlight such actions place on the majority of decent individuals, attributing such acts to fringe anarchist elements.

• Ian Bremmer [08:32]:

  "There are always going to be anarcho leftist douchebags, you know, summoning Waymo, setting them on fire."

Rutger Bregman draws historical parallels to the anti-globalization protests in Seattle, labeling the flag burning as a diffuse and ineffective form of protest.

• Rutger Bregman [08:58]:

  "But is it no longer. It's no longer terrorism to put Teslas on fire, or is it again now that he's. I don't even know."

Maher concludes by criticizing the Democratic response to such provocations, emphasizing missed opportunities to address underlying issues.

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Conclusion

Episode #699 of Real Time with Bill Maher offers a rich and multifaceted discussion on contemporary issues ranging from journalistic ethics and the cultivation of moral ambition to the dynamics of political leadership and freedom of expression. Through insightful dialogue and candid exchanges, Bill Maher, Ian Bremmer, and Rutger Bregman provide audiences with a nuanced exploration of the challenges and opportunities facing society today.

Notable Quotes:

• Bill Maher [01:31]:

  "This guy's a reporter. What the fuck?"

• Ian Bremmer [02:42]:

  "Moral ambition is just a desire to really use your career to make a massive difference."

• Rutger Bregman [06:19]:

  "We need that service right now."

• Bill Maher [08:19]:

  "The flag is a symbol. It's actually, when I see a flag burning, it says to me, I live in a country with freedom."

---

This episode stands as a testament to Real Time with Bill Maher's commitment to addressing significant societal issues with depth and clarity, providing listeners with valuable insights and thought-provoking perspectives.

Transcript

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[Kaley Cuoco]

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

[Bill Maher]

All right, welcome to Overtime with Duchess Star and author of the book Moral Ambition, Rutger Bregman. I'm the president and founder of the Erasure Group and Gzero Media, Ian Bremmer. Okay, here are the questions from the people. What are your thoughts on journalist Terry Moran? Oh, yes. Being dismissed by ABC after he tweeted that Trump is a world class hater. Well, it wasn't just that. I have it here. He talked, he was talking about Stephen Miller. He said, Miller is a man who is rich. This is a tweet or an X, whatever. Miller is a man who is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred. He's a world class hater. You can see this just by looking at him because you can see that his hatreds are a spiritual nourishment. He eats is hate. This guy's a reporter. What the fuck?

[Rutger Bregman]

This is, you know, lots of jobs. Lots of jobs you can have and put that tweet out.

[Bill Maher]

Journalism is not one of them. Exactly.

[Rutger Bregman]

Journalism, not one of them.

[Bill Maher]

That's it. Absolutely lots of jobs you can have and do that. That is the one job. I'm looking at you to be impartial. Just give me the facts. Just give me. I don't need to know this from you, Terry Moran. And if anybody's like, well, what about you, Bill? This is an opinion show. This is not a show where I break stories. I break new ways of looking at stories. If you don't get that, I wasted the whole first 699 shows. All right, Rutger, how would you define ambition for young people? In order to encourage them to pursue work that can improve the world?

[Ian Bremmer]

So moral ambition is just a desire to really use your career to make a massive difference. Right. To really take on the greatest challenges that we face as a species. I often like to ask this question, what will the historians of the future think about us? Because for us, it's easy to look back on, say, I don't know, the 18th century slavery, slave trade, and think, oh, that's really bad. But perhaps we're doing some things today that are really bad as well. So, yeah, that's what it's all about. Answering that question, I would say, like, something like the way we treat animals, for example, is one of the greatest.

[Bill Maher]

Atrocities and will be looked back and seen that way.

[Ian Bremmer]

But most people are like, la, la, la, la, la. It's not happening. So I would love to see if more talented people take that on and try and transform our food system.

[Bill Maher]

Okay. The Democratic socialist candidate for mayor of New York is surging in the polls. What does this suggest about where the energy in the party is? I would say it's on the Upper west side.

[Rutger Bregman]

Yeah, it suggests that Andrew Cuomo is going to be the mayor. He just got the Bloomberg endorsement. He's way ahead of the entire field. Democrats.

[Bill Maher]

No, no, no. That's the story that he' at 42.

[Rutger Bregman]

The last time I saw him. And this guy is like, he's in second place. He's surging, but he's not close.

[Bill Maher]

No, I read yesterday he passed Cuomo yesterday. Well, different polls say different things.

[Rutger Bregman]

Must be Quinnip.

[Bill Maher]

Well, I don't get that.

[Rutger Bregman]

I just pulled that out of my butt. They usually are far on the left.

[Bill Maher]

I knew there was a meaning to that. Quinnipiac. That's the one that's on the. And what's rasp is on the right?

[Rutger Bregman]

Always one of.

[Bill Maher]

Anyway. I mean, I think it's. New York would have a socialist mayor, and I think a Muslim mayor. Right. Is he not a Muslim? Not that that's wrong. Certainly we need more Muslims who stand up for Western values. I mean, London has a Muslim mayor, and I think he's done a good job. I would like to see that example for Muslims all over the world, a Muslim politician standing up for Western values. So if he's that. But I know he's very anti isra.

[Ian Bremmer]

So I don't care if he's socialist or Muslim. If he's the mayor, that's gonna make sure that you know we're gonna build again.

[Bill Maher]

Right.

[Ian Bremmer]

New York has been. Has it been shrinking or at least not been growing? Even though it's one of the great cities of the world? Right. Lots of people wanna live there. But yeah, we've got this huge NIMBY problem.

[Bill Maher]

Why are you Dutch and sound like you're from Ireland? I'm just asking.

[Ian Bremmer]

I mean, does it sound like iron?

[Bill Maher]

Okay, don't.

[Ian Bremmer]

I guess I have this very weird mixture of all kinds of accents. It adapts all the time. It's wherever I'm in the world, really.

[Bill Maher]

What do you sound like in Australia?

[Ian Bremmer]

I don't know. I don't know.

[Bill Maher]

Okay.

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[Bill Maher]

An Atlantic article this week asked where is Barack Obama? Should ex presidents be taking a more public stance against Trump's increasingly brazen behavior? Where is Barack Obama?

[Rutger Bregman]

Where's W? Where's W?

[Ray Dalio]

Right?

[Rutger Bregman]

I mean, that's his party. You know, he's painting, he's doing good work. But I'm continually disappointed about the fact that we have a couple of actually in good health, right? Presidents from both parties that have been ex presidents, but we always call him president who have been completely absent in this environment. I think it's unacceptable. I mean, you take that on it's service and we need that service right now. Why couldn't they be together talking about what it means to maintain democracy, talking about what it means to be civic and have engagement and care about yourselves and not think that the principal enemy in your country is actually your own fellow citizen. That's what we need Bush and Obama to be doing.

[Bill Maher]

You're right. I was gonna say Obama served his time. He deserves to be beach bumming it in Hawaii. And he does. But also, yeah, there's very few people have his kind of standing. And Bush in the Republican Party, the same thing. I mean, the old Republican Party that we don't remember. And if they stood together, you know, one of the things I always appreciated about George Bush was, and I didn't appreciate too much when Obama became president, he had him over to the Oval Office and he stood there and he said, we want you to succeed. The Republican said that to the Democrat. You cannot imagine Trump. You can't imagine Trump conceding, first of all. But can you imagine him standing there with Amy Klobuchar? We want you to succeed, Amy. You won fair and square.

[Rutger Bregman]

But people close to Obama and Bush have made this point and they've nudged and they've tried, and there's just no interest, personally. And I think it's a failing of ours.

[Bill Maher]

Okay, what does the panel think of Trump saying that people that burn the American flag should go to jail for one year? Oh, for fuck's sake. You know what? I've been talking about this issue since Politically Incorrect days. It's so basic. Like, it to me is so clear. People who cannot see the forest for the trees, people who cannot see that a symbol is not the same thing as the reality. Okay? The flag is a symbol. It's actually, when I see a flag burning, it says to me, I live in a country with freedom. And he only sees the thing itself. Not that I'm going to do it.

[Ian Bremmer]

But there are always going to be anarcho leftist douchebags, you know, summoning Waymo, setting them on fire. Yeah, I guess that's the frustrating thing, is that those people get the spotlight, even though the vast majority of people, I would say, are pretty decent.

[Rutger Bregman]

But is it no longer. It's no longer terrorism to put Teslas on fire, or is it again now that he's. I don't even know. It changes fast.

[Bill Maher]

What do you imagine is the psychology behind going after the Waymos? Like, well, there's nobody in them. We're not actually hurting any person, you know? Is that it? Because what comes out of the fire when you burn an electric car is like the most polluting, toxic, toxic thing that's going into it.

[Rutger Bregman]

You know what it reminded me of, though? Remember those anti WTO demonstrations in Seattle? And it was like, save the whales and no nuclear energy. And also, let's, like, go after Starbucks, right? It was so diffuse.

[Bill Maher]

That was my bet.

[Rutger Bregman]

That's what it was.

[Ian Bremmer]

That's right.

[Bill Maher]

The Democrats never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. All right, thank you, everybody. I appreciate it.

[Kaley Cuoco]

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.