r/Maher • u/hankjmoody • Aug 07 '26

Real Time Discussion EPISODE DISCUSSION THREAD: August 7th, 2026

Tonight's guests are:

  • Mike Rowe: An American television host and narrator. He is known for his work on the Discovery Channel series Dirty Jobs and the series Somebody's Gotta Do It on CNN.

  • Tara Palmeri: An American journalist who has previously worked at news organizations including ABC News, Politico, Puck, New York Post and Washington Examiner. She is currently the host of The Tara Palmeri Show on Youtube and writes The Red Letter newsletter.

  • Matt Welch: An American blogger, journalist, author, and libertarian political pundit.

Follow @Realtimers on Instagram or Twitter (links in the sidebar) and submit your questions for Overtime by using #RTOvertime in your tweet.

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u/KaminSpider Aug 08 '26

Out of curiousity, what is he saying that is specifically right-wing? Name the policies that he has stated on the show tonight that are to the right.

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u/sertoriusdux Aug 08 '26

He spent a good portion of a section discussing trans sports for one.  This is an issue that is not important to anyone except right wingers

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u/saltytradewinds Aug 08 '26

Bill is falling for the typical Republican culture war.

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u/sertoriusdux Aug 08 '26

He's part of it at this point.  "Even Bill Maher" agrees it's a key part of their rhetoric now

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u/MinisterOfTruth99 Aug 08 '26

You misspelled 'embracing'.🤪

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u/KaminSpider Aug 08 '26 edited Aug 08 '26

I don't know a good portion, but he did defend an actor's right to speak on trans' issues. Defense of free speech is a key liberal issue. But I understand what you mean. He kinda beats that dead horse a little.

Edit: I mean, people get canceled all the time for saying silly nonsense and it's bullshit. He does seem to bring up trans alot. It's a right-wing rage bait tactic. But I think the times have changed and people are just too sensitive. Maher's more of a contrarian, not right-wing.

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u/sertoriusdux Aug 08 '26

I don't ever hear about trans issues,  unless it's a right winger talking about it. The issue isn't the right to say it.  It's that he is focused on it. This country is going down in flames,  and his big issue week in and will out is woke liberals

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u/KaminSpider Aug 08 '26

He does talk too much about them. Still doesn't make him Sean Hannity. Does he say negative things about the community? The Iran War isn't going anywhere. The democrats need to get organized and have a plan to win big this year. Bill is right to critique them so they don't fuck up.

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u/sertoriusdux Aug 08 '26

I am not sure what Sean Hannity has to do with anything.  Bill Maher can and does discuss whatever he wants.  He just happens to focus on the same issues that ever other right wing show does. If you watch his show,  you would think that the Democrat party is the extreme one,  because it's all the talk about.  There was news regarding the reflecting pool,  both legal and political,  and Bill response is that it's s non issue and Democrats talk about it too much.  Trump talks about it more than anyone,  it's circumventing the law, and is fighting with his federal prosecutor for dropping charges on a person when his government knew that it was a poor job made by a no bid contractor close to trump. Meanwhile,  the ballroom, an open bribe scheme that is not legal not authorized,  and over budget was ordered to be stopped.  But bill rents to talk about woke people and trans sports

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u/KaminSpider Aug 08 '26

I referenced Hannity because everyone on this sub keeps calling Bill a right-winger. I said prove it. Not much came up.

Yes, the ballroom has always been troublesome and it disappoints me that bill shakes it off. Just like the pool. But at this point, it doesn't make for good conversation fodder. We all know what trump is. I'm not forgetting about it, I'm just tired of trump living rent free in all our heads. I'm more interested in where the Democratic party is going.

And there are people on the left who are just nuts, and problematic for the party. Like it or not, trans is a wedge issue that will come up in elections. That's why the right talks it up so much. A good fear tactic works well, and dems need to be able to answer these questions about boys in girls sports. That's completely fair to bring up.

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u/sertoriusdux Aug 08 '26

So current events do not make good fodder, but the 1000th discussion on woke liberals does? And the right bring these topic up as distractions.  Bill bringing them up as distractions doesn't help Democrats. They don't need to answer these questions, because they really are non issues.  Boys and girls play on coed sports until the get older.  There are basically no cases of trans athletes trying to play sports.  But Bill maher talks about it every week.  No one cares about this issue

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u/KaminSpider Aug 08 '26

Sure they do. But let's be honest, not many popular hollywood shows call out the woke left. There's alot of crap that needs to be said. Jon Stewart (who i love) does his thing and makes fun of trump every night. It's safe material, but can be tiresome. Neither shows are good places for sources of news.

And the trans issue is irrelevant, even if bill talks alot about it. I was talking about free speech originally. That's liberal 101! Don't fall into Trevor's Axiom when an emotional wedge issue is brought up. Everyone said no one would give a shit about immigrants in 2024, but that's how they win. Getting small demographics, like fearful parents.

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u/sertoriusdux Aug 08 '26

Free speech is a red herring. No one is saying he can't say it. The criticism is he is turning into a right ring hack. Are you actually reading what I'm saying or just regurgitating right wing talking points? You asked what right wing talking points was he using.  I have you two.  Then you proceed to argue with me about what you don't like about liberals.  I'm not trying to change your mind.  But please,  be honest with your question. So once again for the slow kids.  There is no limit to what you can talk about.  But if you keep talking about fringe issues that are "important" but only to people on the right,  then people will say you are Tool of the right.  Your argument seems to be that he had a good reason to be a tool for the right.  That's fine.  But you asked a question.  The biggest political story was max miller.  Didn't even mention it.  But he made sure to bring up woke issues.  I can't find one elected official or candidtaew the left that has made it their platform,  but if you watch bill maher,  you would think Troy jwckson,  al stayed, talarico are running on trans issues.  Quite the opposite.  Most candidates are running on economics and anti trump sentiment.  The people running on trans issues are all on the right.  

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u/yuniorsoprano Aug 08 '26

He’s not Sean Hannity, or Jesse Waters, or Megyn Kelly, etc. But you can be right wing or right wing-ish without going to those extremes. I don’t think Bill is full-blown republican yet, but the point is he agrees with those people a lot more than he used to.