Overtime – Episode #724: Sen. Elissa Slotkin, Stephen A. Smith, Laura Coates

Summary

Real Time with Bill Maher: Overtime – Episode #724

Guests: Sen. Elissa Slotkin, Stephen A. Smith, Laura Coates
Date: March 31, 2026
Podcast: HBO Podcasts
Host: Bill Maher

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Episode Overview

In this post-show "Overtime" roundtable, Bill Maher is joined by Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Stephen A. Smith (sports commentator and talk show host), and Laura Coates (CNN chief legal analyst). The conversation spans topics from the fallout over support of Israeli lobbying groups, generational rifts in the Democratic party, political opportunism, economic frustration, and a candid critique of the current landscape of American politics and leadership.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Alien Question & Classified Information

• The episode opens light-heartedly with a nod to Sen. Slotkin's CIA past and frequent alien/UFO questions.
  • [01:29] Sen. Slotkin: "Yeah. As a former CIA officer, we get calls every week... It's classified."

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2. Justice Department Investigation into Military and Political Dissent

• Sen. Slotkin addresses surprise at being investigated after encouraging military members to reject illegal orders.
  • [01:57] "I was surprised that after filming a 90 second video that repeated basic law, the uniform Code of Military justice, that the president would ask...for us to be investigated, arrested and hanged." – Sen. Slotkin

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3. AIPAC, Israel, and Shifting Democratic Allegiances

• Discussion on Democrats distancing themselves from AIPAC and Israel.
  • [03:00] Stephen A. Smith: "I think it has [become toxic to support Israel for Democrats]. The question is, is it right? ...A lot of people... engaging in anti-Semitism...but...there’s a lot of people out there that got an issue with Benjamin Netanyahu specifically."
• Bill Maher criticizes the optics:
  • [03:39] "When you’re a Democrat and you don’t take money from AIPAC...what you’re saying is Israel is a monster country, and this is dirty money. And that gives permission...to say, well, if a Democratic senator won’t take their money, this must be a dirty country."

Slotkin’s Decision to Reject AIPAC

• Slotkin stopped taking AIPAC money due to their support of politicians involved in January 6th, not because of Israel.
  • [04:46] "Long before October 7th, I stopped taking AIPAC money...because they were giving money to people who had been participating in January 6th...as someone who barricaded herself in her office on January 6th...I didn't agree with that." – Sen. Slotkin

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4. Money, Integrity, and Political Fads

• Stephen A. Smith questions if a single disagreement justifies total disassociation after years of support.

  • [05:34] "If somebody has been supporting you, and you disagree with one thing...do you disassociate yourself? That’s okay."

• Slotkin responds:

  • [05:57] "If it’s a fundamental issue of values...I have to decide every day where I can compromise and where I should never compromise."

• Maher worries about politicians following popularity trends:

  • [07:14] "If people are in a fad-based way deciding, 'is this unpopular?'...'will this get me less likes?'...that makes me very skeptical about what you'll stand for at all."

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5. Democratic Party Generational Tension & Rise of the Left

• The difficulties mainstream Democrats face with progressive youth activism and social media narratives.

  • [08:20] "The energy in their party is with the young people who learn everything about Israel on TikTok. They don’t know shit. And their leaders are not standing up..." – Bill Maher

• Stephen A. Smith describes the old guard as "at the mercy" of progressive currents and references new radical mayors, like Zoram Mamdani in New York City, highlighting the party's struggle to balance old and new.

  • [08:48] "You got a younger generation of progressive Democrats...making their influence felt. And then you've got the old guard that are at the mercy of them."

• Slotkin observes the sense of urgency and impatience among young people:

  • [10:59] "The young people in particular will either...take it from you nicely, or they will eventually kick down the door. It’s just a matter of which is first."

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6. Distrust in the Status Quo & Leadership Vacuum

• Bill Maher critiques the inability of established leaders to adapt, pointing to rapid generational shifts.
  • [12:49] "The idea of the status quo having been successful, when you see how quickly the next generation has had a completely different life...it’s hard for people to truly trust that guard knows what they’re doing."

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7. Economic Frustration and Political Cynicism

• Laura Coates expresses confusion and irritation at the American economy:
  • [13:22] "I just don’t understand the American economy...so much wealth and I pay so much in taxes, and it doesn’t seem to get to the people."
• Stephen A. Smith denounces politicians’ priorities:
  • [13:51] "They knew you had the damn money. You knew where it was...You knew you didn’t want it to go to the American people. That ain’t ignorance. That’s viciousness. That’s cruelty..."

Memorable Rant from Stephen A. Smith

• [13:51–16:20] - A sweeping critique of politicians’ self-enrichment, lack of accountability, and disconnect from everyday Americans:
  "Marjorie Taylor Greene came into office...worth a couple hundred thousand dollars, according to the reports. How the hell you leave, departing, and you worth 25 million? ...Lobbyists up on Capitol Hill...you getting paid. But the American people ain’t an accident. They know what they're doing."

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8. Defense Spending vs. Domestic Needs

• Debate over government priorities, especially military spending over essential services.
  • [18:03] "If you can spend $200 billion a day, you can find a way to spend a billion in a month so TSA workers aren't missing checks." – Stephen A. Smith
• Maher contends that defense remains the primary role of government, seeing existential threats (like Iran's nuclear ambitions) as justified spending.

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9. “Culturally Normal” and the Political Center

• Slotkin on practical politics:
  • [18:59] "Again, I come from Michigan, where the average person is a very pragmatic, like, put your head down and wants shit to work...We made hats...that said 'team Normal'...The far right and the far left live in a different universe. They really do not represent that middle."
• Stephen A. Smith highlights the power of independents:
  • [19:43] "45% of folks in America...are really independent...That's going to influence upcoming elections."

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10. Provocateurs vs. Policymakers

• Bill Maher warns against politicians more interested in attention than governance:

  • [20:04] "If the whole goal of somebody is just to be visible, just to be viral, then you are going to be vicious in the long run...We have a lot of people who are just thinking, ‘I’m going to emulate Stephen A. Smith.’"

• Stephen A. Smith pushes back:

  • [21:00] "If you need 435 representatives, the majority of them to see your way...sometimes you gotta be vicious. Sometimes you gotta go on national television..."

• Slotkin, on Congressional knowledge:

  • [22:00] "No." [on whether all politicians know what they are voting on.]
  • Stephen A. Smith: "So they just...up on Capitol Hill, they don’t know what the hell they’re doing?"
  • Slotkin: "I'm new to...yeah."

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11. Meta-Commentary on Political Conversation

• Maher expresses that non-candidates like Slotkin and Coates offer more honest, impactful conversation than declared presidential candidates:
  • [22:14] "It just seems like you two who aren’t running are just getting to me in a much more visceral way, effective way than the ones who are running."

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sen. Slotkin [01:57]:
  "I was surprised that after filming a 90 second video...the president would ask, you know, over a dozen times for us to be investigated, arrested and hanged. Yes. And I thought even for him that was too far and they did his bidding."
• Stephen A. Smith [13:51]:
  "That ain’t ignorance. That’s viciousness. That’s cruelty. That’s not thinking about...you look anywhere else — where’s the leadership?"
• Bill Maher [08:20]:
  "The energy in their party is with the young people who learn everything about Israel on TikTok. They don’t know shit."
• Sen. Slotkin [18:59]:
  "I come from Michigan, where the average person...just wants shit to work...We made hats...that said 'team Normal.'"
• Stephen A. Smith [22:00]:
  "So they just...up on Capitol Hill, they don’t know what the hell they're doing?"

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• [01:29] Aliens & CIA
• [01:57] DOJ investigation into military disobedience
• [03:00] AIPAC, Israel, and Democratic Party
• [04:46] Slotkin’s rationale for dropping AIPAC
• [07:14] Social media & political authenticity
• [08:20] Progressive youth influence
• [13:22] Economic confusion
• [13:51] Stephen A. Smith’s critique of political class
• [18:03] Defense vs. social spending
• [18:59] 'Culturally normal' & political centrism
• [20:04] Provocateurs in politics
• [22:00] Congressional awareness & knowledge
• [22:14] Honest conversation vs. political self-promotion

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Tone & Takeaways

• The conversation is candid, at times combative, and skeptical of established elites in both parties.
• There is a shared frustration at the disconnect between political posturing and substantive governance.
• Strong theme: The American public craves practicality, authenticity, and accountability—“just wants shit to work.”
• Generational tension illuminates the party’s fragmentation and the uncertain future of American leadership.
• The most compelling moments arise from the personal candor of guests who are not currently seeking higher office.

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For Listeners

This episode is a must-hear for anyone interested in the pulse of American political drama, the challenge of reform in a sclerotic system, and the very human frustrations of those tasked with leading it. The sharp interjections, emotional honesty, and refusal to dodge tough subjects make it an insightful snapshot of 2026 political discourse.

Transcript

[Stephen A. Smith]

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[Bill Maher]

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

[Stephen A. Smith]

All right.

[Host/Interviewer]

She is the Democratic senator from Michigan, Senator Alyssa Slotkin. He hosts Stephen A. Smith show on SiriusXM. Stephen A. Smith, and she's CNN's chief legal analyst and anchor of Laura Coates Live on cnn. Laura Coates, all right, we're gonna get to the questions from the people. But you said when you sat down you get asked about this every week, about the aliens. We can do this.

[Bill Maher]

I shouldn't have brought.

[Senator Alyssa Slotkin]

Yeah. As a former CIA officer, we get calls every week.

[Host/Interviewer]

You just got figured.

[Senator Alyssa Slotkin]

It's classified.

[Host/Interviewer]

It's class. Okay. Aliens. You heard me. I'm with you. Okay. This is for you. Were you surprised by the Justice Department opening an investigation into you after you encouraged military members to disobey illegal orders?

[Senator Alyssa Slotkin]

Was I?

[Host/Interviewer]

You and five others, right?

[Senator Alyssa Slotkin]

Yeah. Yes.

[Host/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Senator Alyssa Slotkin]

I was surprised that after filming a 90 second video that repeated basic law, the uniform Code of Military justice, that the president would ask, you know, over a dozen times for us to be investigated, arrested and hanged. Yes. And I thought even for him that was too far and they did his bidding. And I just thank the grand jury of just random citizens who I will never meet, who said that's ridiculous. Thank you again.

[Host/Interviewer]

Okay, what do you make of more Democrats distancing themselves from aipac? That is the Israeli lobby, I think everyone who's running for president, although none of them say they are, but all the ones who are, including the two Jewish ones, That's where Jews are with the Democratic Party these days. Has it become toxic to support Israel? I think it has for the Democrats.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I think it has. The question is, is it right?

[Host/Interviewer]

It's not.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I don't think it is.

[Host/Interviewer]

No, it isn't.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I don't think it is. And I think that what you're having right now is a lot of people, when we see. When we saw what we saw on college campuses, what have you, and a lot of people, you know, engaging in anti Semitism, let's just call it what it is, that definitely becomes incredibly alarming. But. But I also think that there's a lot of people out there that got an issue with Benjamin Netanyahu specifically. And unfortunately, they keep castigating the entire Jewish community when they're not realizing there are an abundance of people within the Jewish community that have a problem with his leadership and they're not differentiating between the two. And that's problematic.

[Host/Interviewer]

Well, yeah, that's part of it. I think it's a much bigger issue than that. I think when you're a Democrat and you don't take money from. From aipac, which they have forever, what you're saying is Israel is a monster country, and this is dirty. It's a dirty country, and this is dirty money. And that gives permission to a lot of people who are actually anti Semitic to say, well, you know what, if a Democratic senator won't take their money, this must be a dirty country.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Let's also remember as well that you've got a lot of people that felt like, you know, they're taking this position that Trump was wrong to go after Iran or what have you, but practically every president before him complained about Iran and how Iran needed to be dealt with. But then all of a sudden he doesn't, and it's a big problem. Now, I'm not saying that he's handled it entirely correctly. Please don't get me wrong, because he hasn't. But the flip side to it is that you got a lot of damn nerves to be in the face of American people saying, for numerous administrations, Iran is a problem, they have to be dealt with. Iran is a problem, they have to be dealt with. And then this man deals with him, and then all of a sudden you're complaining about him. Now, it doesn't really make sense. It's a lack of consistency.

[Host/Interviewer]

Did you take AP?

[Senator Alyssa Slotkin]

Actually, it's interesting. I mean, long before October 7th, I stopped taking AIPAC money. Not because of Israel or any other issue like that, but because they were giving money to people who had been participating in January 6th, and for me,

[Host/Interviewer]

who was giving money to AIPAC, they

[Senator Alyssa Slotkin]

give money to Both Democrats and Republicans and people who had been involved in inciting January 6th they were giving money to. And as someone who barricaded herself in her office on January 6th, I just, I didn't agree with that. And so back in 2022, that's when I had that kind of conversation. So long before the last couple of years.

[Host/Interviewer]

Convenient for you.

[Senator Alyssa Slotkin]

It's not convenient when you barricade yourself in your office.

[Host/Interviewer]

I know, but it's not really.

[Senator Alyssa Slotkin]

It's pretty real.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I think I can. But I can respect that. I certainly respect that. I don't disagree. What I'm saying, the part that I disagree with is that if somebody has been supporting you, not you specifically, but if somebody has been supporting you religiously and you disagree with one thing that they do, all of a sudden you disassociate yourself from them. That's okay.

[Senator Alyssa Slotkin]

I think if it's a fundamental issue of values. Yeah. I think if it's. The. People have disagreements all the time in Washington. But I think, look, I think every single day, at least as an elected official, I have to walk into work and decide, okay, one of the issues that I have to compromise on.

[Podcast Sponsor/Announcer]

Right.

[Senator Alyssa Slotkin]

I'm a Democrat representing a state that voted for Trump. Every day I'm trying to figure out where are the issues I can work across the aisle and compromise, but I also am thinking about what are the issues where I should never compromise, where I'm going to stand up for values that I believe in. And when it comes to things like trying to overturn an election, that for me was a line that I just wouldn't cross, I wasn't going to compromise on that. And so that's not to be like one thing where we have a disagreement. If you have a fundamental values disagreement with an organization, then you shouldn't take their money.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I just, I just. It's just hard for me to comprehend how we can sit. We can hear someone on Capitol Hill saying, I have a fundamental disagreement with this one issue. As far as I'm concerned, there should be an abundance of issues that you fundamentally disagree with somebody about, considering the politics that go on on Capitol Hill and the inordinate amount of issues that have to be addressed. I'm not saying that that wasn't serious. I get that part. I'm just saying it's hard to imagine that you would do that. But okay, that's you.

[Bill Maher]

It's hard to. I mean, frankly, I think a larger issue for people is if you are. And this is separate from your reason to do so.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Sure.

[Bill Maher]

But if people are in a fad based way deciding, oh, is this unpopular? Is this going to get me less likes? And I will then stand for that, that makes me very skeptical about what you'll stand for at all. And that if it's a matter of if people don't like that I do this. Are you simply hiding your hands in the long run and doing what you want? I'm very, very skeptical of any politician who decides what they believe in based on what people give them likes for. And so, and that's my larger issue of it. But at the same time, same token, if people have a real reason to deny why they're getting that funding and if big money can get out of politics more broadly so that money does not dictate how politics, that's not going

[Stephen A. Smith]

to happen after Citizens United, is it?

[Bill Maher]

Well, I mean, but it ought to happen, and that's the difference of it. And that's what our government really is supposed to be about, bridging the gap between what ought to be and what is.

[Host/Interviewer]

Yeah, well, I mean, every time, any representative, you're always having to serve two masters at once. One is that you are a representative of the people, but you also want to be a leader.

[Bill Maher]

Yes.

[Host/Interviewer]

And you have to always make that call. When to me, what the Democrats are not doing with this is leading the energy in their party is with the young people who learn everything about Israel on TikTok. They don't know shit. And their leaders are not standing up and saying, kids, you don't know what's going on here. Every war Israel has fought is a war of defense. Right. Every war, they were attacked first. Well, and they're not doing that.

[Stephen A. Smith]

My pushback would have to be with traditional conventional Democrats. Let's have just a speck, a speck of empathy for them in this regard. You got a younger generation of progressive Democrats that pretty much are making their influence felt. And then you've got the old guard that are at the mercy of them. They want to maintain power. And, you know, you want to sit up, you got to receive votes. Look at what happened in New York City. No disrespect, but do we really, really think that Zoram Lamdani was the most qualified candidate to be mayor of New York City? Come on, now, we know better. I'm wishing him well. I'm wishing. I'm not being disrespectful. He's smart, he's sharp, he's quick on his feet. I. I'm not disrespecting him. In any way, but he had never done anything. You got a governor, a former governor who was a three term governor coasting to his fork before the scandal hit. You boot him out of office, he's qualified to get your support for three terms en route to four to run the state, but you don't want him running the city. And you're gonna hand the reins to a 33 year old who looks.

[Host/Interviewer]

He's also a communist. And I'm not saying that as a slur. I'm saying that's his political view. It's a view you're allowed to have in this country and people allow you.

[Stephen A. Smith]

So you have people that don't want to communist and they want that in this country. And unfortunately, if you're a Chuck Schumer or some of the old guards, you're at the mercy of all of that, still trying to stay in office, knowing that you got voters out there that would support that ahead of you.

[Host/Interviewer]

I mean, one of the main people who is in his administration, you can read her tweets and one, I mean, there are many crazy ones, like just home ownership is racist, even though something like 40 million black people own homes. Yes, okay. But also she'd vote more communists. I'm not paraphrasing. Vote more. And he stood by her. I mean, you don't have to read between the lines here. Yes.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Then turning around and asking the president for 21 billion.

[Host/Interviewer]

Well, I mean, as the person who said Democrats are too weak and woke up, I think that's your quote. I mean, this has got to be what you're talking about.

[Senator Alyssa Slotkin]

Well, look, I mean, I think I will just say what happens in New York City does not work in other places of the country. Right. Like I will.

[Host/Interviewer]

It doesn't work there either, by the way.

[Senator Alyssa Slotkin]

Well, they elected him. But I do think, I do think what you're getting at is, and I feel this when I travel, particularly in the middle of the country, like it is hard to miss as an elected leader that people are so desperate for some kind of change. Like they, and they, and the young people in particular will either like take it from you nicely or they will eventually kick down the door. It's just a matter of figuring out which one is going to come first. And I think the old guard has not yet caught up to the fact that the game that they learned to play, it's a totally different game now. It is a totally different operation. And they haven't adapted and they haven't left. And so no matter where you go, I Think the. And I think Mamdani is a New York City thing. I don't think that would work in other places, might work here, but. Well, I would say in the middle of the country, that's a harder sell, I will say, for places like where I'm from. But I don't think it's a symptom of a bigger issue, which is the old guard of politics. It's done, it's over, it doesn't work anymore. And it's certainly on my side of the aisle not playing effective offense against Donald Trump.

[Bill Maher]

And yet, you know, there are things, there are things to be learned from Mamdani. You can take politics aside, policy aside. Very few Democrats, very few Republicans. I can't think of many who have been able to insult, disparage, and go at Trump and still sometimes get results that are favorable for the people we represent. With Trump's blessing, for sure. And part of.

[Host/Interviewer]

Because he had him to the Oval Office.

[Bill Maher]

Well, but whatever. He had the fake kid, the headline that he gave him, I mean, it's

[Host/Interviewer]

not that the guy. It's all about personal with him. Yes, it is. He's not. Donald Trump is not home at night reading the briefing books, I promise you. I don't think he is.

[Bill Maher]

However, the idea of the status quo having been successful, when you see how quickly the next generation has had a completely different life than the one before, it's hard for people to truly trust that guard knows what they're doing in the long run. I mean, a generation ago, they were still saying UFOs, for Christ's sakes, is now UAP, you know, so the idea of all these things are happening. I mean, you look at it, and young people, maybe they don't have it wrong.

[Host/Interviewer]

No, it's still the economy.

[Bill Maher]

Maybe it's the others who do.

[Host/Interviewer]

Well, it could be both, you know, I mean, it's the economy, stupid. I've asked this question so many weeks on this show, and I can never get an answer. I just don't understand the American economy. I really don't. I don't understand how there could be so much wealth and I pay so much in taxes, and it doesn't seem to get to the people. Like, I don't even mind doing it over half, always way over half. And yet it just. I never read about the homeless getting better. Anything getting better, at least done in a city like this.

[Stephen A. Smith]

The problem that I'm having with this conversation right now, uh oh, is that we're accusing the politicians of not knowing they know 39 plus trillion dollars in debt. Yeah, you can't pay TSA workers a billion dollars over the last month, but you could spend 800 million to 2 billion a day, and somehow, some way, you find that money to finance a war. You knew you had the damn money. You knew where it was. You knew how you wanted to allocate it, and you knew you didn't want it to go to the American people. That ain't ignorance. That's viciousness. That's cruelty. That's not thinking about. You see, when we sit up here and we talk about aspiring politicians and all of that stuff, you know how you win an election right now? All you gotta do is look the people in the face, be straight up with them, and let them know you about them. You got a shot. That's all you gotta do, because you look anywhere else. Where's the leadership? Look at the Republican Party right now. It's Trump. You know what I said the other week on my show? I said, y' all do know he's leaving in 2028, right? Unless he circumvents the 22nd Amendment and runs for a third term, he's leaving. J.D. vance. You ain't him. Don't think you are. Marco Rubio. Thank God he doesn't try to be the rest of these people fawning over him in such embarrassing fashion. You ain't gonna be him. And the Democrats, my God, please find somebody who can lead. Gavin Newsom is out here in California. Out here in California, pulling off in his own way what I think he wants to. He's being known more for trolling Trump on his podcast or with other interviews than what he's actually doing in the state of California. They think that's leadership because they don't have it. They know what they're doing. These politicians know. They know where the money is. They know how to get some of it, too. Because Marjorie Taylor Greene came into office, she was worth a couple of hundred thousand dollars, according to the reports. How the hell you leave, departing, and you worth 25 million? Where it come from? I work every day. I make a pretty good salary. I ain't making 25 million working on Capitol Hill with a salary that's less than $400,000 by accident. Somehow, some way, lobbyists up on Capitol Hill, you vote in one way or another, making sure that you assuage their concerns and appeal to them and all of this other stuff, and in the meantime, you getting paid. But the American people ain't an accident. How do you really feel they Know what they doing? They know what they're doing. They just haven't been called on it. But stay tuned.

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[Stephen A. Smith]

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[Stephen A. Smith]

Stay tuned. Okay, I announcement.

[Host/Interviewer]

There was something I wanted to argue with five minutes ago in there, but I can't remember what it was. Something about the war. I think, you know, I think whether they're fighting this war or not, I think the same amount of people would money would be going to. I don't think it affects it at all. And I think, you know, the first job of government. The reason why governments became into existence is defense. And if a country is like Iran was about to get a nuclear weapon, I don't mind spending that money.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Neither do I. Don't mind.

[Host/Interviewer]

You said it was vicious.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm just. No, what I'm saying is somehow some way you found the money for that but couldn't take it. If you could spend 200 billion a day, you can find a way to spend a billion in a month. So TSA workers aren't getting aren't missing checks.

[Host/Interviewer]

He could have done it five weeks ago. He suddenly found.

[Stephen A. Smith]

That's what I'm saying is cool. Not funding the.

[Host/Interviewer]

That's what I would say to you. Everything is a hostage situation. They could have done it. But no, we're going to hold this hostage. And, you know, you're right. The people are the ones who pay. But, I mean, you mentioned our governor. He used the words culturally. What was it? Culturally normal. He said the party needs to get more culturally normal.

[Stephen A. Smith]

He needs to get more culturally normal. It's just the truth. It's just the truth. I actually like Gavin Newsom a little

[Host/Interviewer]

bit anyway, but it's just the truth. I like him. What does that mean to you, culturally normal? What do you think he means? What does it mean?

[Senator Alyssa Slotkin]

I do not know what he means, but I don't. But I will tell you, I mean that again, I come from Michigan, where the average person just is a very pragmatic, like, put your head down and wants shit to work.

[Host/Interviewer]

Right.

[Senator Alyssa Slotkin]

That is it. And so I will be honest, we made hats at the end of my last campaign. They just said, team Normal. I don't give a shit if you're a Republican or Democrat, an independent. Just, like, live in the zone of practicality. And the far right and the far left live in a different universe. They really do not represent that middle. And so to me, I don't know what he meant, but I think the average person understands that, like, sometimes you just take the simple way out and everyone can agree.

[Stephen A. Smith]

45%, they're saying 45% of folks in America, whether they vote Democrat or Republican, they're really independent. It's about 45%, which means that you're going to have a chunk of the American population that's going to influence these upcoming elections. And I'm looking forward to it because it needs to be influenced as far as I'm concerned. Not you not talking about you, but most folks on Capitol Hill, it just needs to be purged.

[Bill Maher]

As long as they're being actual policymakers and not just provocateurs, because provocateurs are not people you should trust with any policy decisions. Like the whole. If the whole goal of somebody is just to be visible, just to be viral, then you are going to be vicious in the long run. But if your goal is actually to do something about the problems in a way that actually involves compromise, involves forward thinking, and also the sustainability of that decision in the long run, then that is somebody you should have in office. We have a lot of people who are on the. Who are on campaigns who are just thinking, you know what I'm going to do. I'm going to try to emulate Stephen A. Smith.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm going to say they can't pull that off.

[Bill Maher]

They can't.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Right.

[Bill Maher]

But they're going to say, I'm going to try. I'm going to try. And I'm going to say, I'm going to do his advice. I'm going to look at a camera and I'm going to tell you that I'm for you. But in reality, they are provocateurs who are for themselves. And we have to be more discerning as a voting people to know the difference.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Laura, you. Here's the deal. The problem with that is that if you. I'm not saying to be cruel with no purpose, and I'm not trying to say just to be a provocateur, but if you need 435 representatives, the majority of them to see your way of thinking, the majority of 100 senators to see your way of thinking, guess what? Sometimes you gotta be vicious. Sometimes you gotta go on national television. You gotta go on a Laura Coates show. Let me tell you what this politician did. Let me tell you how they voted. Let me tell you what they were thinking.

[Bill Maher]

You know what you're talking about, as opposed to.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm assuming they do.

[Bill Maher]

That's. Well, that's the wrong.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm not saying the politicians. That's actually voting on something. I'm assuming they know what they're voting on.

[Bill Maher]

That's a bad assumption sometimes, right?

[Stephen A. Smith]

I mean, that's not true. No, man. I think you would know. I don't know that.

[Senator Alyssa Slotkin]

And I will say, I mean, I think, number one, you are right, that there are a whole group of people on both sides of the aisle who all they think about is, how do I get the clicks. That's how they decide to get.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah, but you're saying they don't even know what they're voting on?

[Senator Alyssa Slotkin]

No.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Wow.

[Senator Alyssa Slotkin]

Okay. I'm new to.

[Stephen A. Smith]

So they just. Up on Capitol Hill, they don't know what the hell they doing.

[Senator Alyssa Slotkin]

I'm new to. Yeah.

[Host/Interviewer]

Why are you always so surprised?

[Senator Alyssa Slotkin]

Why is this shocking to you?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Like, what do you think?

[Host/Interviewer]

I gotta wrap it up. But I just gotta say, I have a lot of people coming on the show because it is that season now where people are starting to, you know, run for president, even though they won't admit it. And it just seems like you two who aren't running are just getting to me in a much more visceral way, effective way than the ones who are running. Noah. So I don't know what the answer to that is, but, you know, think about it. All right, thank you very much.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Catch all new episodes of Real Time

[Bill Maher]

with Bill Maher every Friday night at 10, or watch him anytime on HBO on Demand. For more information, log on to hbo.

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