Overtime – Episode #736: Erin Brockovich, Scott Galloway, Peter Hamby

Summary

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Real Time with Bill Maher: Overtime

Episode #736 – Erin Brockovich, Scott Galloway, Peter Hamby

Date: August 4, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this Overtime segment, Bill Maher gathers panelists Erin Brockovich (consumer advocate and environmental activist), Scott Galloway (NYU Stern professor and podcaster), and Peter Hamby (chief national correspondent at Puck) to dive into a lively post-show discussion. The trio fields questions on personal and public health, the potential of GLP-1 drugs, sports-political crossovers, and quirky internet trends, serving Maher’s signature blend of skepticism, humor, and pointed commentary.

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Key Discussion Topics & Insights

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1. Reducing Exposure to “Forever Chemicals” and Microplastics

[00:36–03:45]

• Erin Brockovich advises awareness as the first step:
  • Know what’s in your local water supply, specifically regarding PFAS (“forever chemicals,” perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances):
    • “I always encourage people to know your own municipality and what's in your water, what's not in your water? PFAS is everywhere. It's... the biggest immersion contaminant in the U.S.” (Erin Brockovich, 01:16)
  • Check your water quality report, which municipalities are supposed to provide quarterly.
    • “If you're not [getting the report], make a phone call. Where's my quality report? So you actually know what's in your water.” (Erin Brockovich, 02:59)
• Filtration advice:
  • “The best way for your municipal system is you should have a reverse osmosis system on your house.” (Erin Brockovich, 02:59)
• Comedic aside from Bill:
  • “One of their effects is it makes you turn your head to the left.” (Bill Maher, 02:27)

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2. GLP-1 Drugs: “A Bigger Impact than AI or Space Tech?”

[04:51–08:46]

• Scott Galloway on American obesity and healthcare economics:
  • Cites obesity as central to lower life expectancy and the federal deficit; healthcare costs are unsustainable:
    • “If you look at lower life expectancy, it reverse engineers to obesity. 70% of America is obese or overweight.” (Scott Galloway, 04:59)
    • “All roads lead to the same place and that is health care. If you were really serious about reducing healthcare... you would put out an RFP for a billion doses of GLP1 and distribute them for free.” (Scott Galloway, 05:38)
• GLP-1’s transforming potential:
  • Diminished health risks, including diabetes, hypertension, and even certain cancer metastases.
    • “They're now saying that it reduces the likelihood of stage one cancer going to metastatic cancer... by 50%.” (Scott Galloway, 07:09)
    • “Every time we keep waiting for another shoe to drop, we find out, oh, it's actually a good thing.” (Scott Galloway, 07:09)
• Skepticism from Maher:
  • On FDA reliability:
    • “Oh, and when did they ever lie? When did they ever get one wrong?” (Bill Maher, 08:05)
• Societal and psychological effects:
  • Maher questions if reduced appetite might stifle other drives:
    • “But it also saps... your drive to eat, but also like your drive to work. Companies don't like it because that kind of like 'eye of the tiger,' right? That goes away.” (Bill Maher, 08:22)
  • Galloway’s take:
    • “The fear is it doesn't want to make you eat less. It just makes you want less.” (Scott Galloway, 08:38)
• Class & genetic privilege:
  • Maher: “I can control my eating without a drug. I mean, you know, where’s the psychology?” (Bill Maher, 08:47)
  • Galloway: “You have the money to eat well. I think there are food deficits.” (Scott Galloway, 08:57)

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3. LeBron James, Politics, and Sports Gossip

[09:02–11:11]

• Peter Hamby relays inside reporting on how Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was involved in recruiting LeBron James to the 76ers:
  • “Josh Shapiro stands up and starts jawboning him about... He's a free agent coming to Philly. Politico reported later that he really put the work in with Rich Paul, his agent.” (Peter Hamby, 10:04)
• Bill Maher doubts the narrative, arguing sports players make moves for competitive reasons:
  • “LeBron James did it because he wants to play with Joel Embiid... That's why.” (Bill Maher, 10:37)
  • “A politician wants me to do it. Yes. What do you make of the online trend. This is for everybody. Of Nixon maxing. Nixon maxing.” (Bill Maher, 11:11)

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4. “Nixon Maxing” – Internet Political Irony

[11:11–12:07]

• Bill Maher on Twitter’s “Nixon maxing” trend:
  • “All I could say is if you wait long enough, everything comes back in style, including apparently fucking Richard Nixon. I mean, God, give me a break.” (Bill Maher, 11:31)
  • He interprets the movement as the latest “edge lord” contrarianism meant to provoke older generations:
    • “It's just like we always have to find something that'll make the adults' heads explode.” (Bill Maher, 11:49)
• Peter Hamby:
  • “These young conservatives will be upset when they find out Nixon founded...” (Peter Hamby, 12:07, trailing off as the outro begins)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Erin Brockovich (On PFAS):
  • “It's a family of about 13,000 different chemicals.” [02:10]
• Scott Galloway (Healthcare costs):
  • “We have fiscal insanity in this country.” [05:15]
• Bill Maher (GLP-1 skepticism):
  • “Oh, and when did they ever lie? When did they ever get one wrong?” [08:05]
• Peter Hamby (On politician credit for sports deals):
  • “I'm just telling you what happened. I'm not telling you that Josh Shapiro made it happen. I'm saying that's what he put. He was lobbying.” [10:48]
• Bill Maher (On irony culture):
  • “If you wait long enough, everything comes back in style, including apparently fucking Richard Nixon.” [11:31]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Reducing “forever chemicals” exposure [00:36–03:45]
• GLP-1 drugs & health policy debate [04:51–08:46]
• LeBron James & gubernatorial influence [09:02–11:11]
• Nixon maxing & ironic Gen Z trends [11:11–12:07]

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Tone & Style

The panel maintains a frank, sardonic tone characteristic of Real Time. Erin Brockovich is practical and persistent, Scott Galloway offers data-backed urgency, Bill Maher skewers hypocrisy and conventional wisdom with dry wit, and Peter Hamby delivers media-savvy lowdown.

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For more, watch full episodes of Real Time with Bill Maher Fridays at 10PM on HBO and HBO Max.

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

Morning decisions. How about a creamy mocha Frappuccino drink? Or sweet vanilla smooth caramel maybe? Or white chocolate mocha? Whichever you choose, delicious coffee awaits. Find Starbucks Frappuccino drinks wherever you buy your groceries.

[Scott Galloway]

Hear that?

[Commercial Announcer]

That's.

[Bill Maher]

Now crispy and McCrispy strips meeting. Creamy Caesar sauce sounds. Extra Crispy caesar sauce at McDonald's for a limited time.

[Commercial Announcer]

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

[Bill Maher]

All right. She's a consumer advocate and environmental activist. Erin Brockovich, the one and only. He is the chief national correspondent at Puck, Peter Hanby. He was just great on the show. And our returning champion, a professor at NYU Stern School of Business, and podcast host Scott Galloway over here. Okay. All right, first one is for you, Aaron, from the People. They want to know things. What's the most important thing the average American can do to reduce the exposure to forever chemicals and microplastics? Great question. I think about this myself quite a bit.

[Erin Brockovich]

What you can do to reduce it.

[Bill Maher]

Yes, your risk.

[Erin Brockovich]

Well, first of all, if it's in your water, I always encourage people to know your own municipality and what's in your water, what's not in your water? PFAS is everywhere. It's, you know, the biggest immersion contaminant in the U.S. so if you've got.

[Bill Maher]

Who are you looking at? Well, I'm looking over here. Oh, these people. Okay.

[Peter Hamby]

Can you talk here?

[Bill Maher]

No, no, no. I mean, mean. And we can do it like this and then talk to anybody you want. No, no, no. These people love you over here, I'm telling you. Okay. All right.

[Erin Brockovich]

So now, honestly, the best way to get any PFAs, even at low levels, out of your PFAs. PF. PFAs. P. Fuck. Whatever.

[Bill Maher]

And what does that stand for? That's for.

[Erin Brockovich]

That's for what we call fluorooctanoic acid.

[Bill Maher]

And it's what really called forever chemicals.

[Erin Brockovich]

Forever chemicals. It's a family of about 13,000 different chemicals. Should I look over here?

[Bill Maher]

No, no, no. I understand.

[Erin Brockovich]

We don't know we're here with this.

[Bill Maher]

I understand. One of their effects is it makes you turn your head to the left.

[Erin Brockovich]

That's just kind of what I do.

[Bill Maher]

I'm just kidding. Okay, but so much. But how do we. Please, do I want to know.

[Erin Brockovich]

So.

[Bill Maher]

Doesn't matter. Oh, okay.

[Peter Hamby]

If it's in your water,

[Erin Brockovich]

the best way for your municipal system is you should have a reverse osmosis system on your house. But first of all, you have to know if you've got PFAS in your water per fluorooctanoic acids. So I encourage people know your water quality report. You should be getting one every three months. If you're not, make a phone call. Where's my quality report? So you actually know what's in your water.

[Bill Maher]

So I should be. I've never seen such a report. I should be getting that from the state of California.

[Erin Brockovich]

You should be getting it from your local municipality. A quarterly report of what's in your water.

[Bill Maher]

Okay. I mean, if California isn't doing it, trust me, nobody's doing it. This is the place that does shit like that.

[Erin Brockovich]

Supposed to be doing it.

[Bill Maher]

What's this?

[Erin Brockovich]

We're supposed to be doing it.

[Bill Maher]

We're supposed to be doing it. Okay, well, that's what we need here. More regulations.

[Erin Brockovich]

That's one of the first things you can do. But I'm not going to look to the left again. All right.

[Commercial Announcer]

Tomorrow morning is knocking. Stock your fridge now. How about a creamy mocha frappuccino drink? Or a sweet vanilla smooth caramel maybe? Or white chocolate mocha? Whichever you choose, delicious coffee awaits. Find Starbucks frappuccino drinks wherever you buy your groceries.

[Peter Hamby]

Hear that?

[Bill Maher]

That's now crispy and McCrispy strips meeting creamy Caesar sauce. Sounds extra. Crispy caesar sauce at McDonald's for a limited time. Bottom up.

[Peter Hamby]

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[Commercial Announcer]

Almost.

[Peter Hamby]

Sweets? No, spicy. See for yourself. 4.99 and only at $7.11. Follow up through 8.2526 participating stores only while supplies last. Visit store for full terms.

[Bill Maher]

Scott, you've argued that GLP1s could have a bigger impact on America than AI or space technology. Why?

[Scott Galloway]

If you look at our deficit, if you look at lower life expectancy, it reverse engineers to obesity. 70% of America is obese or overweight.

[Bill Maher]

Covid was all about obesity.

[Scott Galloway]

92% of mortalities and Covid had an obesity related comorbidity.

[Bill Maher]

And I never heard Foushee get up there and tell the people that. That was one of my big gripes with how they handled it. They did not level with the American people instead of telling them, you know what? Stay home, keep drinking, eat more, order food, don't get fresh air. They told they were trying to looked like they were trying to. I know they weren't, but like, that would have been a good thing to tell people.

[Scott Galloway]

But the boring stuff moves the needle. One of the biggest things that ails us is inflation. The dollar's down 28% since 2000 because we spend $7 trillion on $5 trillion in receipts. We have fiscal insanity in this country and any reasonable, honest, adult conversation around reducing our deficit. All roads lead to the same place and that is health care. If you were really serious about reducing health care, you would take, you would put out an RFP for a billion doses of GLP1 and distribute them for free to every low income household in America. If you really are serious about taking our health care costs from $13,000 per capita to $6,500 where they are in the rest. It's one way. It's GLP1 and in terms of it being a more transformative technology. Talk to someone who uses AI every day and is also on a GLP1 and ask them what's had a bigger impact on their life.

[Peter Hamby]

When will, when will state Medicaid, like when will Medicaid and Medicare cover or do they already cover these drugs because they cost 300, $400 a pop from the pharma companies? So you know, if you're medi cal or a state Medicaid service like you would think that they would be giving these out at cheaper rates to people because it does bring down hypertension, obesity.

[Bill Maher]

Trump, I seem to remember him having a big press conference.

[Peter Hamby]

You can buy direct from the manufacturer on Trump rx.gov But he, you know, he claims he negotiated lower rates, but it's still not as low as insurance covering a stat.

[Bill Maher]

But he specifically singled out this. Of all the medications that shot the

[Scott Galloway]

market is actually working here. The price for an average monthly GLP1 has been cut in half. And this is the first technology or healthcare thing in history where every time we wait for the next shoe to drop and think it's going to be bad. We thought chemotherapy was going to save everyone and then we thought too much chemotherapy, you get leukemia, we tend to have. We're finding out social media does not just connect us, it does some other things. Every time we find out something new about GLP1, it's a positive. They're now saying that it reduces the likelihood of stage one cancer going to metastatic cancer actually been reduced by 50%. Every time we keep waiting for another shoe to drop, we find out, oh, it's actually a good Thing. Everyone at this table is going to be on a GLP1 within 24.

[Bill Maher]

But if you live in Greenville, Mississippi. No, not everyone at this table. No, absolutely. It also. They also found out everyone should be. Well, it's not been around long enough, I don't think. What are the.

[Scott Galloway]

It's FDA approved. I trust our agency.

[Bill Maher]

Oh, and when did they ever lie? When did they ever get one wrong?

[Erin Brockovich]

That's true.

[Bill Maher]

So is fair enough.

[Scott Galloway]

I set myself up for that one. I think when you look at the studies around the upside versus the downside here, it's the most transformative technology in the world.

[Bill Maher]

It is very transformative. It also saps. They have found people's drive. I mean, your drive to eat, but also like your drive to work. You know, you're kind of like. Companies don't like it because that kind of like eye of the tiger, right? That goes away in a lot of people when they take.

[Scott Galloway]

Well, the fear is it doesn't want to make you eat less. It just makes you want less. That's the fear. Right?

[Bill Maher]

I don't want to want less.

[Scott Galloway]

Fair enough.

[Bill Maher]

I can control my eating without a drug. I mean, you know, where's the psychology?

[Scott Galloway]

You said 30% of America, Bill.

[Bill Maher]

What?

[Scott Galloway]

I think you're blessed with genetics that make it easy for you and you have the money to eat well. I think there are food deficits.

[Bill Maher]

Okay, But I've showed this picture before of people like in 1969. I think you take any crowd shot like them looking at the rock going up for the moon landing. Look at the crowd. There's no fat people in the crowd. And trust me, cake was delicious. In 1969. It was. Somehow they controlled it for Pete. How much credit do you think Governor Josh Shapiro deserves for helping recruit LeBron James to the 76ers?

[Peter Hamby]

I reported this.

[Bill Maher]

Well, he's a Jew, so none. I live in America. I know. I can read the writing.

[Peter Hamby]

This was a scoop I had at Puck a couple weeks ago during the Fanatics Fest in New York, which is like a big sports card trading festival. LeBron was there. He went to a club called ZZ's. Have you been to ZZ's? You been to ZZ's? Yeah, it's like a private club in New York. Haven't been there. Josh Shapiro.

[Bill Maher]

I saw Fauci there.

[Peter Hamby]

Josh Shapiro was there having dinner with the Clintons. Bill and Hillary Clinton. They see LeBron James across the room. Bill says, come over here. Josh Shapiro stands up and starts jawboning him about. This is when He's a free agent coming to Philly. Politico reported later that he really put the work in with Rich Paul, his agent. Whatever. So, look, Josh Shapiro might run for president, but if you look at the tweets after he got LeBron coming to. He's up for reelection this year for governor.

[Bill Maher]

This is complete bullshit.

[Peter Hamby]

People in Philly. People in Philly are loving it.

[Bill Maher]

Oh, they're loving it. But that's not why LeBron James did it. LeBron James did it because he wants to play with Joel Embank. Maxi. And they got Jaylen Brown. That's why.

[Peter Hamby]

I'm just telling you what happened. I'm not telling you that Josh Shapiro made it happen. I'm saying that's what he put. He was lobbying. He wasn't the real reason. It's an easy ring. He's got two years left. He plugs in nicely.

[Bill Maher]

Okay, so we really.

[Peter Hamby]

Are you mad about him leaving?

[Bill Maher]

No, no, no. I'm a Knick fan.

[Commercial Announcer]

Oh, okay.

[Bill Maher]

Oh, congrats. And have been my whole life.

[Peter Hamby]

That's why you're salty about the Sixers news.

[Bill Maher]

I'm not salty. I'm just saying I know why LeBron James did it. Everybody knows why he did it. That's why he wants to play with the best players at the biggest chance at the ring. It wasn't because the governor. Oh, right, A politician wants me to do it. Yes. What do you make of the online trend. This is for everybody. Of Nixon maxing. Nixon maxing.

[Scott Galloway]

What's that?

[Bill Maher]

I'm ask. I'm looking. Where you. Where young conservatives are rebranding Richard Nixon as a political icon. Well, I. All I could say is if you wait long enough, everything comes back in style, including apparently fucking Richard Nixon. I mean, God, give me a dressing like him.

[Peter Hamby]

What are they doing?

[Bill Maher]

It doesn't say Nixon maxing. Yeah, I guess it's just. You know what it is? It's that edge. Lord shit. It's just like we always have to find something that'll make the adults heads explode. And, you know, anybody who was around for Richard Nixon is going to be like, Richard Nixon, you kids.

[Peter Hamby]

I mean, these young conservatives will be upset when they find out Nixon founded

[Bill Maher]

the Good to be back people.

[Erin Brockovich]

Thank you.

[Commercial Announcer]

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,

[Scott Galloway]

HBO.com every act of change begins with a neighbor. When neighbors connect through the Feeding America

[Bill Maher]

network, small actions ripple into lasting impact. Feeding America, led by neighbors.

[Scott Galloway]

Give now to end [e-mail] hello. Look what TJ Maxx dragged in.

[Commercial Announcer]

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is now streaming on Disney plus and Hulu.

[Bill Maher]

We are digital. We are downloadable. We are streamable.

[Commercial Announcer]

The fashion event of the year is certified fresh.

[Scott Galloway]

Pull yourself together.

[Erin Brockovich]

We have work to do.

[Commercial Announcer]

Critics say it's smart and witty and the perfect sequel.

[Peter Hamby]

That's all.

[Commercial Announcer]

Get Runway ready for The Devil Wears Prada 2 on Disney and Hulu. Rated PG 13.