❓WHAT HAPPENED: Bill Maher criticized the Democratic Party’s leadership for failing to distance itself from far-left ideologies and figures, citing an “identity crisis” within the party.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Bill Maher, Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani, Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO), and author James Kirchick.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Remarks were made during the latest episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, including its “Overtime” segment.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Are you on the side of Western civilization and Western values or are you on the side of the terrorists?” – Bill Maher
🎯IMPACT: The comments highlighted a growing divide within the Democratic Party, as well as concerns about extremism and leadership’s unwillingness to address it.
Bill Maher issued a warning to the Democratic Party during the latest episode of Real Time, urging its leadership to break away from far-left ideologies and figures like New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Maher described the party as grappling with an “identity crisis” and questioned its alignment with Western values versus extremist ideologies.
“The world is a complicated place and it’s not just about oppressor and oppressed,” Maher said. He criticized certain Democrats for viewing history through a narrow lens, adding, “Until they do, I don’t think the Democratic Party is going to go forward until they make a decision: whose side are you on here? Are you on the side of Western civilization and Western values or are you on the side of the terrorists?”
Maher singled out Mamdani as emblematic of the extremism infiltrating the party. “Some of the things he says, you know he quotes Marxists, ‘each according to their need.’ I mean, that’s straight-up communism,” Maher said. His remarks came after a heated exchange with Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO), who dismissed the criticisms as attempts to create a “boogeyman.” Maher fired back, “No, these are quotes. I’m not creating anything, I’m quoting [Mamdani].”
Author James Kirchick, also a guest on the program, expanded on Maher’s concerns, stating that Mamdani represented everything the far-right once accused Barack Obama of being. “Everything that the crazy far-right alleged about Obama, wasn’t born in America, Islamist, socialist, antisemite, hates America, it’s all true about this guy [Mamdani],” Kirchick said. He further criticized Mamdani’s support for the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which Kirchick argued explicitly calls for violence against Jews.
Mamdani has since stated he would stop using the phrase and “discourage” others from doing so, but tensions persist. A July poll by American Pulse revealed that 30 percent of New York City voters support Mamdani’s refusal to condemn the slogan and his backing of the anti-Israel boycott movement, underscoring divisions within the Democratic Party.
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