Bill Maher returned from his annual “Real Time” summer hiatus on Friday and kicked things off with a monologue focused on the bonkers political events that happened while he was away for just one month.
He shared particular praise for how Democrats have navigated the transition from Joe Biden as the 2024 nominee to Kamala Harris while he was gone, joking, “What can happen in a month? I mean, a month ago, the Democrats were so resigned to going into battle with the skeletal remains of Joe Biden. And now, you know, they’re ecstatic because they have this youngish, hottish — it’s like a rom-com: ‘You were there all along. We just didn’t see.’”
Maher also noted how Harris leading in the polls has affected her opponent, Donald Trump. “I mean, Trump has been petty and vindictive, lying and whining. So, no change.”
“One month ago. It was just a month ago,” Mahere continued. “Our last show, Joe Biden was saying ‘the Lord Almighty’ would have to tell him to step down. And then the Lord Almighty knocked on the door and said, ‘Joe, it’s me: Nancy Pelosi.’”
Maher credited Democrats for having done “what they never do. They got organized right away. They got united. Joe out, Kam in,” adding that the choice of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was a great one because of his appeal to “red state white guys.”
“It’s like coaxing a cat that’s under the car, you know — like, ‘Come on out. It’s OK. I’ve got an old white guy with me,’” Maher added.
The host also talked up the Democratic National Convention, joking that “the
message was, we’re a normal political party. We’re not great. We’re a Corolla. Not great. But just remember, the other choice is a child molester’s van that’s also a car bomb.”
Maher also mentioned the weirdness of night 4 of the DNC, when there were widespread rumors — that some outlets even said had been confirmed by sources — that Beyoncé would be appearing ahead of Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech. That did not, in fact, happen, and no one really understands how the rumors took root.
But Maher looked on the bright side, noting how “the difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is that Democrats were disappointed when Beyoncé didn’t show up, and the Republicans were disappointed when Hulk Hogan did.”
“I’m sorry, Republicans — a month ago, you had it in the bag. Now you’ve lost your mojo. I mean, today, J.D. Vance’s couch said, ‘Not tonight.’”
You can watch some of Bill Maher’s monologue below now:
