Real Time with Bill Maher: Overtime – Episode #705
Guests: Kaitlan Collins, Steven Pinker, Stephen Moore
Date: September 9, 2025
Episode Overview
In this Overtime segment, Bill Maher hosts a lively discussion with Steve Moore (former Trump economic advisor), Kaitlan Collins (CNN Chief White House Correspondent), and Steven Pinker (Harvard professor and author). The conversation ranges from viral rumors about Trump’s mortality, wealth and the ethics of billionaires, US foreign policy, standards in higher education, to football culture in America. Throughout, Maher maintains a blend of humor and skepticism, prompting guests to respond candidly to current controversies.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Rumors of Trump’s Death and the Spread of Misinformation
- [01:02–02:14]:
- Maher opens by referencing the recent online rumor that Trump had died, highlighting society’s fixation on the former president.
- Maher: “To me, it just shows how much he's in our heads, that when he doesn't appear for a day, we're like, he must be dead for a minute.”
- Kaitlan Collins comments on the widespread nature of the rumor, regardless of its outlandishness.
- Collins [01:47]: “I had people who I think have a pretty tight grasp on reality asking me if this was true last weekend, if he had actually died.”
- Steve Moore is incredulous, given Trump’s constant media presence.
- Pinker links this to social dynamics and rumor psychology, recalling past celebrity death hoaxes (the "Paul McCartney is dead" phenomenon).
- Pinker [02:31]: “It's true that we are sensitive to what other people believe. So there can be a kind of self-reinforcing dynamic to rumors.”
- Maher opens by referencing the recent online rumor that Trump had died, highlighting society’s fixation on the former president.
2. Wealth, Billionaires, and Elon Musk’s Potential Trillionaire Status
- [03:08–06:22]:
- Maher muses on the idea of Musk becoming the world’s first trillionaire, positing whether there should be limits to personal wealth.
- Maher [03:38]: "I also think there has to be limits to everything. I mean, this is again what I'm talking about. Nothing ever lands in the middle."
- Steve Moore champions capitalism, arguing against wealth caps.
- Moore [03:31]: “Is this a great country or what? You can become a trillionaire. I mean, where else on the planet?”
- He contends, “My point is it's his money. He should be able to do with it what he wants in general.” [05:17]
- Maher brings up Rockefeller and antitrust as historical precedent for limits.
- Pinker questions the effectiveness of philanthropy by billionaires versus contributions toward global health.
- Pinker [05:42]: "I haven't seen him distribute anti-HIV drugs, malaria drugs, education for girls. Bill Gates has given away a lot of money... Elon Musk will probably cost 20 million lives from the cuts he's made on USAID when he was head of doge."
- Moore and Pinker debate USAID’s track record and the impact of foreign aid.
- Moore [06:07]: “That's the most corrupt foreign agency ever. Show me anywhere where USAID has had a positive effect…”
- Maher muses on the idea of Musk becoming the world’s first trillionaire, positing whether there should be limits to personal wealth.
3. U.S.–Venezuela Relations and the “War on Drugs”
- [06:22–07:17]:
- Maher references recent military actions (blowing up a suspected drug boat) and questions U.S. target selection in anti-drug operations.
- Maher [06:48]: “Venezuela is not the place. I mean, they do have gangs... But Venezuela is not one of the drug countries that if we really want to stop drugs, that's... Venezuela is not the place.”
- Collins points to the lack of transparency and legal justification in U.S. actions.
- Collins [07:00]: “There's questions about the legal authority and justification for just blowing up a boat... we haven't seen the evidence. They haven't presented that publicly...”
- Maher references recent military actions (blowing up a suspected drug boat) and questions U.S. target selection in anti-drug operations.
4. Football, Safety Culture, and Weather Delays
- [09:06–09:53]:
- Audience question about rain delays in football prompts commentary on "safetyism."
- Maher [09:14]: “This is safetyism. This is a part of the health discussion we were having. I think that everybody has to be safe completely, at all times...”
- Steve Moore and Bill Maher bemoan dome stadiums and praise playing in tough weather.
- Moore [09:38]: “Can I tell you what else I hate? No more building dome stadiums. Football should be played outside.”
- Maher [09:44]: “Yes? Yeah, I agree. Baseball.”
- Audience question about rain delays in football prompts commentary on "safetyism."
5. College Standards, Grade Inflation, and Student Work Ethic
- [10:02–13:24]:
- Maher asks Pinker about declining educational standards and reading habits.
- Pinker describes a steady drop in student performance, revealing grade inflation at Harvard.
- Pinker [10:30]: “They have declined. And I can see it in my own class, which I've taught for 22 years... performance has been going down... 10 percentage points from 2004 to now.”
- Pinker discusses new institutional policies: prioritizing academics, allowing attendance-taking, and banning electronics in class for better memory retention.
- Pinker [11:37]: “She [the dean] said that it's okay for professors to take attendance in lectures, which I'm going to start doing, that it's okay to ban electronic devices, which I might start doing.”
- Pinker [12:47]: “When you have to think hard about something, when you've got to process its meaning, when it's not just a bunch of words, then you actually remember better.”
- Collins affirms the value of handwriting in interviews and work.
- Collins [13:24]: “When I'm interviewing someone, I'll write the questions... then when I'm interviewing them, I don't have to look at anything and I can remember...”
6. Space Force Relocation and Alabama
- [13:55–15:07]:
- Maher references Trump moving Space Force from Colorado to Alabama, hinting at political motivations.
- Maher [14:01]: “…Trump just moved Space Force from Colorado to Huntsville to Alabama for no good reason because he was mad at Colorado for having mail in voting.”
- Collins explains the political and economic debates in Alabama over the move, estimating job impact.
- Collins [14:33]: “They said they did all these studies where it would be better. It's going to be in Alabama. There's a real question of how many jobs it's going to bring to the state.”
- Maher references Trump moving Space Force from Colorado to Alabama, hinting at political motivations.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Maher [01:02]: “...when he doesn’t appear for a day, we’re like, he must be dead...”
- Collins [01:47]: “I had people who I think have a pretty tight grasp on reality asking me if this was true last weekend, if he had actually died.”
- Pinker [02:31]: “There can be a kind of self-reinforcing dynamic to rumors.”
- Moore [03:31]: “Is this a great country or what? You can become a trillionaire.”
- Maher [03:38]: “There has to be limits to everything.”
- Pinker [05:42]: “I haven't seen [Musk] distribute anti-HIV drugs... Bill Gates has given away a lot of money. He's saved probably 100 million lives. Elon Musk will probably cost 20 million lives from the cuts he’s made on USAID...”
- Moore [06:07]: “That's the most corrupt foreign agency ever. Show me anywhere where USAID has had a positive effect...”
- Maher [09:14]: “This is safetyism. I think that everybody has to be safe completely, at all times.”
- Pinker [10:30]: "They have declined. And I can see it in my own class… performance has been going down…”
- Pinker [12:47]: “When you have to think hard about something... then you actually remember better.”
- Collins [13:24]: “When I'm interviewing someone, I'll write the questions... then when I'm interviewing them, I don't have to look at anything and I can remember…”
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 01:02 – Rumors about Trump’s death and social psychology of misinformation
- 03:08 – Elon Musk, billionaire wealth, and philanthropy debate
- 06:22 – US foreign policy: Venezuela and anti-drug actions
- 09:06 – Rain delays in football and “safetyism” in sports
- 10:02 – College standards, grade inflation, and pedagogical reforms
- 13:55 – Trump’s Space Force move and Alabama politics
Tone & Style
The tone is witty, irreverent, and conversational, with Bill Maher’s signature skepticism and the guests engaging in lively, good-natured debate.
This summary captures the essence and depth of the Overtime discussion, helping listeners grasp major topics, positions, and memorable exchanges without needing to listen to the entire episode.