Bill Maher says Democrats' monopoly on California has ruined the state as he has harsh words for what they must do to win elections again
Bill Maher blasted Democrats for ‘ruining’ California through unchecked one‑party rule as he warned they will keep losing elections unless they move to the center.
In an interview with the California Post, the host of HBO's political series Real Time with Bill Maher also blamed Democrats' leftward drift in the state for alienating voters nationwide.
'California could stand for a lot more centrist policies,' he said. 'It's just not a good thing when one party completely controls anything.'
He added Republicans had fallen into the same trap in Washington and become 'drunk with power' and 'overstepping their bounds and doing things that are now making them unpopular'.
'I would love to see both sides marginalize their crazies,' Maher, 70, joked.
He also hit out at Hollywood's 'woke' image for turning off voters across the country and had blunt instructions for dealing with the problem.
'Hollywood [is] sort of the epicenter of the woke left. I don't think they're doing the Democratic Party any favors,' he told The Post.
'I think if Democrats want to win elections in the future, job one, tell the celebrities to just shut the f*** up. You're not helping. You don't strike people in most of the country as sensible or in touch with reality.'
Bill Maher has repeatedly blasted Hollywood’s ‘woke’ politics and said his Golden Globe nomination never stood a chance because ‘this town hates’ his blunt commentary
He decried the Democrats' stranglehold on California and said Governor Gavin Newsom needs more centrist policies if the party wants to succeed nationwide
Maher also hit out at local leaders including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
'Did I think she'd done a great job? No. But all cities are messy,' Maher said.
He added that while he likes Governor Gavin Newsom personally, he believes he needs to shift to the center.
'I think if a Democrat like Newsom moves more to the center, it's good for the party and it's good for the country,' Maher said.
The comedian acknowledged that his criticism of progressives has alienated many in the entertainment industry.
On his Club Random podcast, he said he never expected to win his Golden Globe nomination this year because of his blunt political commentary.
'I speak freely, and this woke town f***ing hates that. And that's okay. I've made my peace with that,' he said,a prediction that proved correct when Wanda Sykes mocked him onstage while presenting the award.
'Bill Maher, you give us so much but I would love a little less,' she said, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Maher has also been embroiled in a long‑running feud with fellow comic Dave Chappelle, who blasted him in a recent Netflix special as offering ‘smug, cracker‑a commentary’ and claiming it was easier to speak freely in Saudi Arabia than in the United States.
Maher fired back on Real Time, calling the comparison ‘stupid’ and joking that Chappelle should ‘try opening a lesbian art gallery’ in the kingdom.
Maher said one party rule in California was responsible for 'ruining' the Golden State
Maher also slammed woke Hollywood for ruining the Democrats reputation and said Democrats need to tell celebrities to 'shut the f*** up'. His outspoken views led to Golden Globes presenter Wanda Sykes mocking him at the glitzy ceremony
The spat resurfaced as Maher attacked this year’s ‘Golden Globes activism,’ ridiculing celebrities for wearing anti‑ICE pins on the red carpet and branding Hollywood stars ‘f***ing posers’ for virtue‑signaling.
He warned Democrats that celebrity politics are alienating moderate voters.
Maher also defended podcaster Joe Rogan after awards organizers left him out of a new podcast category, calling the snub 'typical and predictable and also ridiculous,' according to The Post.
He said Democrats had alienated moderate voters by embracing far‑left positions, adding that Hollywood activism only amplified the problem.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Bill Maher for comment.
