Real Time with Bill Maher guests - Friday, October 17, 2025

[Sympthsical]

13. Meh, disagree

I know plenty of Democratic voters in good standing who watch and discuss episodes. Sometimes I watch, sometimes not. Sometimes it's interesting, sometimes not. A lot of people like New Rules. I find Maher a little personally insufferable - his podcast is a completely unbearable listen - but I'm glad someone's out there making some of the criticisms he does - and it's always fun to watch the bubble crash out.

It's only in the bubbles I see this obsession, where resident media monitors feel an endless need to scold and shame for disapproved choices.

Reminds me of evangelicals I grew up with in the 80s or 90s trying to browbeat people into consuming only the media they wanted you to.

Ignored those types then. Ignore those types now. The best a bully can manage - and a long-term, much-liked DUer is being bullied with some mean girl tactics at this point - is that people just get quieter in hostile company about the fact that they're watching.

And let's not lie to ourselves. Plenty of his haters are absolutely watching. Howard Stern effect. Same reason so many people on our side seem to watch Fox News all day.

It doesn't matter. I've seen everyone else's media choices. Makes my trash tv choices look like the Criterion Collection. I think I can suffer the evangelizing foot stomping somehow.