Ep. #733: David Sedaris, Ian Bremmer, Hagar Chemali

Bill Maher delivers a blistering critique of America’s political and cultural dysfunction, anchored by a sharp takedown of Elon Musk’s trillionaire status and the absurdity of a billionaire’s tax-free escape from California. The episode opens with a satirical jab at Trump’s birthday UFC fight and his recurring, empty promises of a peace deal with Iran—now 38 times in a row. Maher dissects the growing public distrust in elites, not just from the right, but from the left, where the term 'Epstein class' has become a rallying cry for systemic corruption. He argues that the real crisis isn’t wealth itself, but the erosion of trust in institutions and the belief that the system is rigged. The conversation pivots to the Ukrainian war, where Maher praises Elon Musk’s Starlink for shifting the battlefield in Ukraine’s favor, proving that 'necessity is the mother of invention'—and that even dictators can be outmaneuvered. He warns that the world is watching, especially China, which is now learning that Goliath doesn’t always win. The episode closes with a darkly comic New Rules segment, mocking political candidates with Nazi tattoos, fantasy rape fantasies, and a candidate who wants to turn ICE into a prison for Zionists—highlighting a democracy that elects its own reflection: broken, confused, and deeply unhinged.