Real Time with Bill Maher – Overtime #708: Rep. Nancy Mace, Michael Smerconish

Date: September 30, 2025
Guests: Rep. Nancy Mace (R–SC, gubernatorial candidate), Michael Smerconish (CNN, SiriusXM host)
Host: Bill Maher

Episode Overview

This "Overtime" segment dives into current political headlines with sharp, rapid-fire discussion from the panel. Topics include recent government and military decisions, TikTok’s potential American takeover, the secrecy around the Epstein files, public executions, and the challenges facing both parties in upcoming elections. The tone is irreverent, combative, and candid, characterizing Maher’s signature style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pentagon’s Gathering of Officers

(01:06–02:51)

• Prompt: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calling 800 generals/admirals to DC sparked speculation and concerns about possible hidden motives.
  • Nancy Mace (01:38):
    "If it were a corporate CEO saying I want to have the leadership come together for a skull session, nobody would care... What the hell am I missing here?"
  • Smerconish (01:52):
    Felt media aimed to inflate fear: "Is he going to... Braveheart? He's going to get them all in the thing and burn the thing."
  • Bill Maher (02:10):
    "Want to be able to work with our allies and be strong and have peace in the world. This is great."
  • Panel notes trust issues with the current administration but agrees this may be overblown, with the only legitimate logistical concern being a government shutdown trapping delegates in DC.

2. TikTok’s Ownership & National Security

(02:51–04:50)

• Background: The potential sale of TikTok to Oracle raises criticism on both sides about ownership—American plutocrats versus foreign (Chinese) control.
  • Smerconish (02:51):
    Questions critics: "Do you want Americans to own it or don’t? Who did you think was going to buy it, mom and pop?"
  • Maher (03:30):
    "Oracle already basically housed all the data here. There was no backdoor way for China to get in... not much difference between now and a year ago."
  • Mace (03:47):
    "I'm concerned about who controls the algorithm... too many young men in particular are getting bad messages from being locked into a bad algorithm."
  • Maher (04:16):
    Warns broader issue: "TikTok isn’t the only risk. We have a lot of risk in the App Store... We're not actually fixing the overall problem."

3. The Epstein Files – Transparency and Accountability

(04:51–08:09)

• Release Timeline: Rep. Mace expects the discharge petition to unseal the Jeffrey Epstein files to reach 218 signatures soon, with a vote expected in the third week of October.
  • Mace (05:11):
    "218th signature will happen next week... Once we get back... the first week of October, the disclosure petition has to cure for seven days. Once you have 218 signatures, then expect a vote probably the third week of October."
  • Maher/Smerconish (05:36–05:44):
    Joking on Trump’s lack of interest: "I haven't been threatened... There’s still time."
  • Smerconish (05:47):
    Skeptical about a bombshell: "I just feel like it’s Al Capone’s vault... What do you think we’re gonna find out?"
  • Mace (06:28):
    "It takes, what, four Republicans to make this happen? And she's one of them."
  • Maher (06:56):
    Stresses focus on victims:
    "What about the victims?... They’ve been fighting for 30 years for justice and they don’t have it... Those predators, those child rapists—they need to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. I don’t care if it’s a prince in England. I don’t care. Go to jail. Cold, dark cell, that’s good enough for me." (07:14)

4. “Escalator Gate” and Political Conspiracies

(08:09–09:34)

• Context: Trump complained that a broken UN escalator was a deliberate act.
  • Maher (08:37):
    "Nothing surprises me anymore. I’m like full blown conspiracy theorist now."
  • Smerconish (09:03):
    "The prompter also has gone down. Bill Clinton once did like half the State of the Union address off the cuff because the prompter went down. Shit happens."
  • General sentiment: Both view conspiracy theories as part of today's hyper-politicized landscape.

5. Public Executions & Crime

(09:34–10:35)

• Provocative question on public executions:
  • Maher (09:41):
    "Yes. Especially for child rapists?"
  • Mace (09:49):
    Expresses frustration over lack of criminal accountability in her state. Supports enforcing current death penalty laws more efficiently, referencing the Dylann Roof case and general uptick in crime:
    "The violence and the crime, people just getting away with it, cashless bail, whatever. I want to see law and order."

6. Party Identity, Polls, and 2024 Election Warnings to Democrats

(10:35–13:46)

• Smerconish (10:35):
  Shares polling revealing Trump’s slipping popularity yet continued Republican leads on key issues (crime, immigration, economy, corruption).
  • "Democrats win by two points on respect for democracy. Now, some of this is just because people are fucking stupid."
• Mace (11:53):
  "The only thing the Democratic Party stands for today is opposition to Donald Trump."
• Candid Jabs at VP Kamala Harris:
  • Mace (12:03):
    Jokes about reading Harris’ new book: "I did."
    Criticizes lack of future vision: "I was looking for... what's the plan for the future? There wasn’t any."
  • Maher (12:26):
    "She's rewriting history in the book, too... they tried to dismantle Title IX against women."
• Systemic Political Critique:
  • Smerconish (13:13):
    Satirical salesmanship analogy: "You need 107 days. You tell people your plan... If I'm selling a vacuum cleaner, I'll tell you why I think it's best. Am I going to tell you every goddamn day for two years?"
  • Conclusion: The panel is disillusioned with extended campaign cycles and the overwhelming influence of money in U.S. elections.

Memorable Quotes

• Bill Maher (07:14):
  "Those predators, those child rapists—they need to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. I don't care if it's a prince in England. I don't care. Go to jail. Cold, dark cell, that's good enough for me."
• Nancy Mace (11:53):
  "The only thing the Democratic Party stands for today is opposition to Donald Trump."
• Michael Smerconish (10:35):
  "Democrats win by two points on respect for democracy. Now, some of this is just because people are fucking stupid."
• Bill Maher (02:27):
  "Reagan, peace through strength. I mean, showing strength around the world by having these generals come together..."
• Nancy Mace (09:49):
  "The violence and the crime, people just getting away with it, cashless bail, whatever. I want to see law and order."

Notable Timestamped Segments

• 01:06 – Pentagon generals’ gathering: Is it really a big deal?
• 02:51 – TikTok sale: Contradictory public reactions, Oracle’s real role, and broader security threats.
• 05:11 – Epstein files: Timeline for potential release, focus on justice for victims.
• 08:37 – Escalator gate: Trump, conspiracy culture, political theatre.
• 09:41 – Public executions: Crime, punishment, and the death penalty.
• 10:35 – Latest polling: Republican advantage on issues, Democratic weaknesses, critique of long campaigns.

Tone & Style

The discussion is punctuated by sarcasm, bluntness, and humor, with participants regularly challenging each other and the status quo. The panel is critical of both political parties and unanimous in their cynicism regarding political theater and missed priorities, particularly on justice, data security, and campaign focus.

Useful for:
Anyone keen on up-to-date political debates, inter-party critiques, issues of technology and privacy, criminal justice reform, and U.S. electoral politics, rendered with the trademark irreverence of Bill Maher and his guests.