Real Time with Bill Maher – Overtime Episode #701: Rep. Jason Crow, James Kirchick

Release Date: August 5, 2025

Participants:

• Bill Maher – Host
• Rep. Jason Crow – Democratic Congressman from Colorado, New York Times opinion writer, author of Secret City
• Jamie Kirchick – Political Analyst and Author

1. Introduction

In Episode #701 of Real Time with Bill Maher, host Bill Maher engages in a dynamic conversation with Democratic Congressman Jason Crow from Colorado and political analyst Jamie Kirchick. The episode delves into pressing political issues, ranging from legal actions against former President Donald Trump to contemporary discussions on national security, education, and political dynamics within the Democratic Party.

2. Legal Actions Against Donald Trump

Lawsuit Over Denied Congressional Access

Bill Maher opens the discussion by addressing a lawsuit filed by Rep. Jason Crow and eleven other congress members against former President Donald Trump. When asked about the nature of the lawsuit, Crow clarifies:

Jason Crow (00:32): "We are suing Trump."

Bill probes further, inquiring about Trump's actions leading to the lawsuit. Crow explains that the suit stems from Trump's denial of access to an ICE detention center within Crow's district—a facility Crow had been overseeing since taking office in 2019.

Jason Crow (01:32): "He denied me access in the first administration, so we actually passed a law that says that he can't deny access to members of Congress to show up to do the oversight. And he just violated that law a couple of weeks ago, me and 11 others. So we are [filing the lawsuit]."

The lawsuit has been filed in the Federal District Court of D.C., with judges yet to be assigned.

Implications and Context

Crow emphasizes the significance of congressional oversight and the breach of established protocols by Trump, marking a pivotal moment in accountability for former presidents.

3. Space Force and UFO Phenomena

Understanding Buckley Space Force Base

The conversation shifts to national security, specifically concerning the Space Force. Crow elaborates on the strategic importance of Buckley Space Force Base in his district:

Jason Crow (02:47): "Buckley Space Force Base... one of the largest intelligence fusion centers in the country. We operate a lot of the satellites around the country. And every time anyone lobs a missile up into space, so the Iranian missiles, for example, when those are launched, it's Buckley Space Force Base that sees them and starts all the warning and starts all the activation to shoot them down."

UFOs and National Security Concerns

Maher introduces a topic trending in the news—a Harvard professor suggesting an interstellar comet could be an alien craft. This sparks a discussion on the nature of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs):

Jamie Kirchick (03:58): "I don't really believe in the kind of UFO conspiracies. I tend to believe that what they actually are are maybe Chinese drones or aerial vehicles... rather have us believe that they're UFOs from space and aliens than the Chinese."

Crow adds authority to the conversation by referencing his role on the intelligence committee and recent declassified reports highlighting anomalies:

Jason Crow (04:16): "We released a report and it shows that there are these anomalies, these objects that move faster than aircraft can and then, you know, just stop and then move. So, you know, I don't think they're alien craft. I don't know."

Public Perception and National Security

The panel underscores skepticism towards extraterrestrial explanations, favoring more terrestrial threats like advanced Chinese technology. The dialogue highlights the intersection of national security and public fascination with UFOs.

4. Trump's Educational Policies and the "Woke" Debate

Presidential Fitness Test in Public Schools

Maher brings up Trump's proposal to reinstate the presidential fitness test in public schools, featuring challenges like the mile run and pull-ups. While Crow sidesteps the question, Jamie Kirchick does not address it directly, shifting focus to broader cultural debates.

War on Academia

The discussion pivots to Trump's alleged "war on the Academy," which Jackie criticizes as a misrepresentation of the president’s actions:

Bill Maher (07:32): "Trump says that woke is officially dead... What do you make of the President's war on the Academy?"

Jamie Kirchick (08:00): "And they're continuing to racially discriminate, and that's the law. And that the Supreme Court ruled two years ago."

Crow elaborates on specific incidents, such as Trump ordering the firing of the new head of the political science department at West Point due to her political beliefs, highlighting the administration's cultural battles:

Jason Crow (09:48): "Trump had the Secretary of the army fire the new head of the political science department at West Point because he doesn't like her political beliefs... this is his woke culture war."

Impact on Higher Education

The panel discusses the broader implications of these actions, noting the decline in diversity of thought and increasing political interference in academic institutions.

5. Kamala Harris's Political Future

Maher inquires about Vice President Kamala Harris's recent announcement that she will not run for governor of California or for president in 2028:

Bill Maher (10:10): "Were you surprised by Kamala Harris's announcement that she will not run for governor in California?"

Jamie Kirchick (10:38): "I think you should be very happy about that because I don't think that she would be a good candidate."

Jason Crow (10:49): "I don't spend a lot of time looking at California politics as a litmus test for the rest of the country."

Maher and Kirchick debate the strategic implications of Harris's decision, with Bill expressing skepticism about her potential success had she chosen to run.

6. FEMA's Response to Texas Floods

Assessment of FEMA's Handling

The panel evaluates FEMA Acting Director David Richardson's statement praising the agency’s response to the Texas floods:

Bill Maher (10:54): "What does the panel make of FEMA's acting director David Richardson saying his agency's handling the floods in Texas was a model for how disasters should be handled?"

Jamie Kirchick (11:22): "They're not there to prevent unpreventable forces of nature killing us."

Crow discusses FEMA's proactive measures, such as community resiliency programs, and critiques potential cuts to these initiatives:

Jason Crow (11:28): "They do have proactive training programs... cutting all of that actually will have pretty significant impacts on a lot of communities."

Critique and Future Outlook

The conversation underscores the challenges FEMA faces in disaster response and the importance of maintaining preparedness programs to mitigate future crises.

7. Democratic Primary Candidates and Political Strategy

Evaluating Rahm Emanuel and Other Candidates

Maher and Kirchick shift focus to the upcoming Democratic primaries, discussing figures like Rahm Emanuel and others:

Jamie Kirchick (12:03): "I like Rahm Emanuel. But all the things that he's been saying to appeal to center-right voters... is really going to hurt him in a Democratic primary."

Emanuel's stance on conservative social issues, particularly his comments on gender, is highlighted as a potential vulnerability:

Jamie Kirchick (12:20): "He said yes [to believing there are only two genders]. And now I have to go into the witness protection program."

Maher and the panel analyze the viability of candidates navigating the "woke" culture landscape, suggesting that conservative-leaning statements may alienate Democratic voters.

8. Notable Quotes

• Jason Crow (01:32): "He denied me access in the first administration, so we actually passed a law that says that he can't deny access to members of Congress to show up to do the oversight. And he just violated that law a couple of weeks ago, me and 11 others. So we are [filing the lawsuit]."

• Jamie Kirchick (03:58): "I don't really believe in the kind of UFO conspiracies. I tend to believe that what they actually are are maybe Chinese drones or aerial vehicles... rather have us believe that they're UFOs from space and aliens than the Chinese."

• Bill Maher (07:32): "Trump says that woke is officially dead... What do you make of the President's war on the Academy?"

• Jamie Kirchick (12:20): "He said yes [to believing there are only two genders]. And now I have to go into the witness protection program."

• Bill Maher (12:44): "It's a little more complicated than that. Oh, but there is a default setting. For humans, there's a default setting and we don't always happen to happen, but we shouldn't have it."

9. Conclusion

In this episode, Real Time with Bill Maher tackles a spectrum of contemporary political issues through incisive dialogue between Bill Maher, Rep. Jason Crow, and Jamie Kirchick. From legal battles against former President Trump and national security concerns regarding the Space Force to internal Democratic Party strategies and critiques of current educational and governmental policies, the panel provides a multifaceted exploration of the current political landscape. Notably, the discussions on the intersection of national security with UFO phenomena and the internal cultural wars within academia and the Democratic Party offer listeners a comprehensive understanding of the nuanced challenges facing American politics today.