In a recent episode of Real Time, Bill Maher discussed his thoughts on the first joint interview with Kamala Harris and Tim Walz that aired on CNN. Maher noted that Walz, the vice president nominee, stayed silent for much of the interview, which Maher found odd. He joked that Walz was like a contestant on Jeopardy who couldn’t buzz in. Maher also criticized the interview for failing to ask important questions about issues such as abortion, Ukraine, homelessness, the opioid crisis, and the national debt. He also critiqued the common media question of what a candidate would do on day one in office, calling it a silly question for a presidential candidate.
Despite Maher’s criticisms, Harris and Walz’s CNN interview drew 6.31 million viewers, where Harris discussed her plans for middle-class Americans and brushed off questions about Donald Trump’s race comments. Maher mentioned that Trump tweeted negatively about the interview, calling it boring, but Maher argued that he appreciates some “boring” in politics and that the focus should be on policy rather than sensationalism. Maher quipped that Harris and Walz are not meant to be an action-packed duo like Deadpool and Wolverine. The guests on Real Time’s episode included Rep. Nancy Pelosi, John McWhorter, and Peter Hamby.
Overall, Maher’s comments on the Harris-Walz interview touched on the lack of substantive questioning by the media, the role of the vice president nominee, and the importance of focusing on policy rather than theatrics in political interviews. Maher’s critique of the common “day one” question and media sensationalism reflects his belief that political discussions should delve deeper into important issues rather than surface-level topics. Despite differing opinions on the interview, Maher emphasized the need for honesty and clarity in political interviews, and for a focus on policies that will benefit the American people.
