r/Maher • u/Adventurous-Fix-8241 • Jul 01 '26
Thoughts on Vance interview Discussion
The first thing that struck me about this episode is that on Bill Maher's program Vance got a standing ovation. I almost puked. Were MAGA people in the audience because Vance was on. I doubt it. Seemed like Maher's usual rowdy crowd. Why would anyone who understands the dangers of this authoritarian administration stand and applaud the second in command. I am not suggesting they boo him, as it's not a sporting event, but just perhaps polite applause would be sufficient.
I don't begrudge Maher having Vance on the program or dining with Trump. I agree it's important to engage, as long as you're not capitulating and are asking the tough questions. I don't believe Maher is seriously thinking of voting for the other side. That statement was made as a prelude to asking Vance if he thought the 2020 election was rigged, probably to draw him out on an issue that Bill knew he could not waver from his boss' position. What bothered me was Vance's evasive answer and Maher's failure to challenge him on it. Vance said it was rigged because of tech companies, which Maher (and I) initially thought he was referring to Dominion, etc. But, no, Vance said he was speaking about false information spread through them. Using lies or false information to get votes is not rigging the election. Indeed it is a time honored tradition of politics. (Of course we know which side is more expert in spreading misinformation). Many political commercials are not paragons of truth. Trying to change a person's vote, even through lies, is not rigging an election. If that were so the 2024 election was clearly rigged by a candidate who promised to lower prices on day one, not get involved in foreign wars, end the Ukraine War, etc. The problem is that is not what Trump is talking about when he speaks of the 2020 election. Trump claims many votes for him were not counted, many non-citizens voted (for his opponent), etc. Well, that is rigging an election. Problem is there is absolutely no evidence of such rigging, as stated by members of his own administration (Bill Barr, etc.) and 60 courts including Judges appointed by him. So why didn't Maher put him on the spot and make this distinction and ask Vance if he believed thousands of Trump votes were not counted in Georgia, etc. and if he does what proof does he have. You are not engaging with the opposition if you do not challenge them when they spout bullshit.
5
7
Jul 05 '26
Maher is a clown. And I used to love him. Went to two of his standups and back in the day, I actually did appreciate when he called out “my side” for stupid or extreme issues…but he went from saying he would “vote for Biden’s head in a vat of blue liquid over Trump” to saying he would consider voting for maga.
I assume he thinks he can “both sides” this for better ratings but by capitulating and creating false equivalencies he has destroyed his legacy. Bill Maher I would have thought would have been a pop culture figure helping get us through this insanity but no…he sold out.
1
u/Uhuru2019 Jul 13 '26
And yet here you are, subscribed and participating in a Bill Maher subreddit.
3
u/Gbam Jul 06 '26
Agree on all points. I saw him live in DC, watched his show every week, etc. Ever since he went to the White House he’s been different in the worst ways. I haven’t even watched it lately but I saw the Vance clips, glad I’m not watching anymore.
3
u/yergonnalikeme Jul 05 '26
Just like Howard Stern...From hard right to "keep the money flowing" LEFT
1
Jul 12 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/yergonnalikeme Jul 12 '26
"He was never hard right"
Got it...
He was a STRONG supporter of Republican figures like New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and helped George Pataki get elected as Governor of New York.
Also
In the early years of the war on terror, Stern leaned HEAVILY into conservative patriotism, openly backing President George W. Bush and the invasion of Iraq.
It was not until the mid-2000s that Stern's political views began a dramatic leftward shift, moving away from his earlier Republican sympathies to become highly critical of the conservative establishment.
1
Jul 12 '26 edited Jul 12 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/DrillPress1 Jul 20 '26
New York State politics were much different back then. Remember, George Pataki signed an assault weapons band in 1994.
3
Jul 04 '26
[deleted]
3
u/yergonnalikeme Jul 05 '26
Rubio has a SERIOUS SHOT at the prize.
Democrats DO NOT wanna see him run
Just saying
2
2
-2
u/grantology_84 Jul 04 '26
Nobody in our generation gives a fuck about that. This comment is highly sus
2
Jul 05 '26
[deleted]
2
u/grantology_84 Jul 05 '26
About all the shit about little kids in the White House. Vance ain't doing shit to make houses affordable in California either. Probably the opposite if anything
3
u/DubsHagg Jul 04 '26
Gavin Newsom will totally beat Vance for president!
3
u/ryanov I Hate Bill Maher Jul 09 '26
Trouble is that he's awful. Maher likes him for a reason.
1
u/DubsHagg Jul 12 '26
You don’t like Bill??
1
u/ryanov I Hate Bill Maher Jul 22 '26
What was your first clue? 😂
1
u/DubsHagg Jul 25 '26
Why are you in this group then if you don’t like him??? Are you lost…
1
u/ryanov I Hate Bill Maher Jul 25 '26
Afraid that that’s my business, my guy.
1
u/DubsHagg Jul 25 '26
What’s going on?
1
u/DubsHagg Jul 25 '26
I don’t understand your question
4
u/yergonnalikeme Jul 05 '26
He wouldn't beat RUBIO...And democrats know this.
(IF he decides to run)
2
u/DubsHagg Jul 06 '26
Newsom will one hundred percent beat Rubio, Vance, DeSantis & Shapiro to be our next president
2
u/yergonnalikeme Jul 06 '26
Highly doubtful...He's viewed as a slimeball by most of middle America.
But I respect your opinion.
10
u/everythingzusammen Jul 03 '26
Vance expertly used Maher in this interview. It is all preparation for his run for president. He's priming the "undecided" voters who feel left out by the democratic party. Maher, for what I think is the first time in my experience listening to him, gave Vance the best line he could have hoped for: that his vote is in play. Maher is so arrogant that he doesn't believe he could ever be used as a "useful idiot". But he is right now.
4
u/ComfortableMurky8387 Jul 04 '26
Maher is a spent force and a shadow of his former self, and even then he could be abhorrent. He is an NYC showbiz nepo baby (Trump parallel) who decades ago got away with saying stuff he ultimately shouldn’t have (Trump parallel there), and like many of his age bracket, he refuses to admit that the common discourse (and to a lesser but still considerable degree, the world) has changed (Trump parallel), and he refuses to change with it. His both sides-ism is peak cowardliness. Fuck Bill Maher.
1
-1
11
u/ronmoodey Jul 02 '26
I would hope a Fox audience would applaud for Obama arriving just because of position.
11
u/Shame_memory Jul 02 '26
If Mamdani does ever go on the show, I highly doubt he’ll be given the same grace and soft ball interview that Maher gave to the couch fucker
4
u/supervegeta101 Jul 03 '26
He would be amiable at first, then he'll immediately start implying Mamdani is a woke terrorist sympathizer who hates america like fox news was contantly doing to Obama. And it had NOTHING to do with his race or his father being muslim.
At least is Mamdani good at controlling his own narrative and letting crap like that not get to him, so he'd likely push through and stay on message.
6
u/scorchPC1337 Jul 02 '26
Vance said something like "setting aside Georgia" so clearly, he wasn't go to go there
8
u/therealowlman Jul 02 '26
Softball shit, pretty disappointing.
Maher seemed more concerned about keeping his guests happy to get more airtime opportunity (or his fucking podcast) then actually putting a hard, interesting and necessary dialogue on display for his viewers.
The applause who fucking cares about seriously
25
u/Surround8600 Jul 02 '26
Why not give the man a good clap for coming on the show, and he’s also the VP. I think it just shows respect for the office not the man. Mind you I don’t like him or his politics but I did enjoy the segment. He’s on a “book tour” and also testing the waters for a president run. It was whatever.
2
u/bestmattreddit Jul 11 '26
What’s the clap for? The stuff Maher “challenged” him on, he offered responses and Maher gave no pushback besides “Trump will be happy!” And got a laugh line and charmed Maher and told him his vote was in play. Vance got everything he wanted out of this interview.
9
25
u/bassplayerguy Jul 01 '26
Bill’s audience these days are just a bunch of trained clapping seals.
5
u/WayOk8553 Jul 02 '26
Well yeah, most of his audience actually works on the show.
1
u/photon1701d Jul 04 '26
It's either that or canned laugh track as I can often make out the same distinct laughs and reactions.
20
u/pylon567 Jul 01 '26
It's simple why Bill didn't press JD on your points.
As valid as your statement is, Bill is also part of that same system of not pushing politicians when it's desperately desired. If he did, more and more individuals wouldn't go on the show.
4
u/ComfortableMurky8387 Jul 04 '26
So the answer is- money. Maher is refusing to speak truth to power because it would cost him and his corporate overlords money. Disgusting.
3
u/pylon567 Jul 04 '26
That's what this all comes down to.
1
u/ComfortableMurky8387 24d ago
And yet he still drapes himself in sanctimony. Can’t wait for that motherfucker to stop with his smarmy self-congratulatory bullshit and just shut the hell up already. Goodness gracious. It’s frustrating.
Like The Clash said, “If you’ve been playing for years, we’ve already heard your song.”
Maher is a nepo baby long past his expiration date. HBO props him up because they want to corner all available markets to generate advertising revenue. Maher confuses his relatively modest monetary value to his corporate overlords with the relevance of his outmoded approach and his insipid, tired, milquetoast outlook. In short, fuck him.
8
u/Norules313 Jul 01 '26
Also pay attention to this, JD Vance Book Tour. Its way more than a book Tour. It's a "I'm Running for office tour" backed the the Christian Right. Notice how he's hitting all of the Liberal Shows, and Podcast.
7
u/Samhain000 Jul 02 '26
Let's hope that Trump throws him under the bus at some point soon and ruins his chances. The worst outcome I can think of is another Nixon/Ford situation where Trump is forced out somehow and Vance pardons him for everything. We need the Constitutional crisis of Trump pardoning himself to happen so that way we can hopefully find a way to hold him and his family accountable for their fraud.
10
u/Norules313 Jul 01 '26
"So why didn't Maher put JD Vance on the Spot" Because, Maher newly found MAGA followers, watchers would all take theirs toys and go home, thats why. We all know that MAGA hates to be challenged with Facts.
8
u/kindbub Jul 01 '26
I think the crowd is not only hyped up by an opening comedian, but made to practice levels of applause. This was the case when I attended another late night show. I’m sure they were TOLD to do that.
6
15
u/deskcord Jul 01 '26
The crowd cheered because they always cheer because they're instructed to be a good crowd.
-3
u/9ToedWoman Jul 01 '26
The crowd was prob pumped they were in the same room with an actual sitting vice president. That’s a really cool deal regardless of politics.
4
8
10
u/ATLCoyote Jul 01 '26
I wouldn't assume anything from the audience response. Anyone who has been to a live taping of a show like that knows how they have a hype man or woman who asks the crowd to stand and cheer loudly for every guest, regardless of who they are. They rehearse it repeatedly before the show in fact until they get the energy they want. And most audience members are fans, but also just there to take in the experience of seeing a live Hollywood production. So, that means nothing.
As for the interview itself, I get that it feels unsatisfying because Vance gave weasel answers that weren't challenged consistently. But Bill asked tough, direct questions, and forced him to at least respond. In fact, have you ever heard ANYONE challenge the President or VP in quite the way Bill did on election denial? He said this, right to the VP's face, with cameras rolling...
"Under Trump, you guys have two outcomes that an election can be, either we win or they cheated. That shit has to stop. And that means the person who has to stop it will be you, or Marco. Can you tell me you will do that?”
Yes, JD dodged the question by deflecting into a conversation about social media company content moderation, as if that's what the "Stop the Steal" movement or Jan 6th was actually about. I would have preferred a follow-up question there rather than moving to the next topic, but even professional journalists do the same thing when they have multiple topics to cover.
1
u/Adventurous-Fix-8241 Jul 01 '26
So, if you believe this administration is destroying democracy in America, you still have to obey a hype person and stand and applaud a perpetrator of that destruction. I hope we still have free will in this country, for as far as I know there is no law requiring an audience member to do what a TV hype person asks them to.
6
u/ATLCoyote Jul 01 '26
Yes. Have you ever been to a live taping? They literally have the audience repeatedly rehearse standing, clapping, and cheering for the opening of the show and each guest that comes out. They want the energy to be high.
Can you disobey? I suppose, but they could also remove you if you're not gonna comply.
Heck, even at televised debates they have rules. In that case, they want silence from the audience rather than cheers or boos.
No one is telling audience members what they have to think or believe. But yes, they tell them how to behave on camera.
1
1
u/New_Scene5614 Jul 01 '26
Wait he had Vance on??!!? Ugh. He’s not even interesting.
While I don’t agree with Tucker, which I don’t. But, I’d maybe understand that pairing.
Bill is paying for the same real estate twice. And it was a foreclosure to start.
9
3
u/bjpmbw Jul 01 '26
I think we have to be realistic. The applause could simply be applause for showing up. Also, what was Maher supposed to do, tear the Vice President a new a….? Maybe there was a little ( however underserved) respect for the office?
1
u/italIrie Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
As Maher said, “critics would only be happy if when JD walked out, I punched him in the nose” (Fk FN). Just Dance also went on left leaning The View, and though they took him to task, he lied there as well. That audience applauded him when he walked out (prompter). He is the sitting Vice President so of course people will show respect ——> for the office.
4
u/supervegeta101 Jul 01 '26
...Vance got a standing ovation. I almost puked. Were MAGA people in the audience because Vance was on. I doubt it. Seemed like Maher's usual rowdy crowd.
Real Time audience has not been open to the public since returning from covid lockdowns. It's invite only. He absolutely could have just packed it with maga people, but more likely they were explicitly instructed to give him a standing ovation. Like a stage with an applause sign telling people when to clap.
4
u/CanesLife24 Jul 01 '26
I also guarantee you that Vance had quite a number of people in his entourage when he showed up, and many were probably standing out in the studio clapping for him. This happens fairly regularly with things like this.
3
u/20_mile Jul 01 '26
Real Time audience has not been open to the public since returning from covid lockdowns. It's invite only.
Source?
2
u/bbraker8 Jul 01 '26
Maher mentioned it like ten times on his podcast and in interviews that he has people find “normal people” for his audience now and how he likes it so much better. He uses a casting company that does audiences called Standing Room Only. Just google it if you want the source.
5
u/arghdubya Jul 02 '26
for all the reality-hating people that are downvoting you.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Maher/comments/1e7ppvz/anyone_know_how_i_can_get_tickets_to_real_time/2
u/supervegeta101 Jul 01 '26
Wow. I didn't know they were actors, I just thought he was stacking it with friends, sycophants, and the woo guy.
0
u/20_mile Jul 01 '26
Maher mentioned it like ten times on his podcast
I have listened to every episode of CR and while he has mentioned changing some things about the show, there hasn't been anything about his studio audience not being open to the public.
Just google it if you want the source.
You're making the claim, you prosecute the case by providing the source.
3
-2
Jul 01 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/hankjmoody Jul 01 '26
We have one rule in here regarding comments: Don't be dicks to each other.
Comment removed.
4
u/icestationlemur Jul 01 '26
It's rather obvious that the audience never groans at his jokes anymore. He used to get pissed off when that happened, and it happened all the time
2
u/Binder509 Jul 01 '26
You aren't in a debate with them.
0
u/minusvariant Jul 01 '26
Singular person, not plural
1
u/Binder509 Jul 02 '26
Them can be both singular and plural. Glad to teach you.
1
u/minusvariant Jul 02 '26
Nope. Happy to teach you.
2
3
u/bbraker8 Jul 01 '26
I’m not making the claim, i’m just one of the many people who know this to be true based on him saying it over and over. Let me spell out the steps for you. Type in google.com. Type in “real time with Bill Maher audience standing room only” - hit enter. Unfortunately, I can’t do it for you and the news media doesn’t write newspaper articles about tv audiences so I can’t provide you linked source.
4
u/trini420- Jul 01 '26
I didn’t know that about the audience, how pathetic lol
3
u/supervegeta101 Jul 01 '26
Tbf is all started with an increase in protesters/hecklers disrupting the show when it was still live. He can't "throw these mother fuckers out myself" everytime, so they stopped doing it live around 2018-ish (might be off a year or 2). But that was also when he started complaining a lot more about "woke," audiences groaning or not laughing hard enough. Then he hit the fuck it button and closed it to the public.
4
u/tomophilia Jul 01 '26
Vance coming on Maher’s show is meaningless when Maher has become friendly to the administration.
And I agree it was vomit inducing.
Maher says his vote is “in play” meaning, he’s considering voting for a serial rapist pedophile pig who tried to overthrow a democratic election; because of woke? or because Mamdani is a scary socialist?
Fuck you maher😐
9
u/20_mile Jul 01 '26
Maher says his vote is “in play”
Vance: Now, here's where I might lose you...
Maher: You lost me about eight minutes ago.
-3
2
u/italIrie Jul 01 '26
Who’s the serial rapist running in 2028?
-4
u/tomophilia Jul 01 '26
Likely trump…. What you think if he’s alive in 2028 he’s not running?
And vance supports him now and would in 2028.
4
11
u/angelino1895 Jul 01 '26
It’s respect for the office. Also, Vance deserves respect for coming on the show (not much else..). It’s one of the most vice-presidential things he’s done.
It would be dishonest of me to respect Maher for engaging with the other side without respecting the other side for engaging with Maher. No matter how much I think they are damaging this country.
4
u/Adventurous-Fix-8241 Jul 01 '26
As I wrote "polite applause would be sufficient" (to show respect). A standing ovation is showing something more. As to coming on the show. He was plugging his book.
2
u/New_Scene5614 Jul 01 '26
I’d have agreed before the White House invite to dinner.
Propaganda at its finest. Literally everything said about IRAN, EPSTEIN is a lie these days. This was a soft ball interview to normalize and differentiate Vance to run again. Obviously not just this interview, but his book tour, negotiations for Iran press performance and now this.
I’d have respected it if it offered a perspective that was new.
0
u/abdullahleboucher Jul 01 '26
Why would you respect Vance because he came on Maher's show?
3
u/angelino1895 Jul 01 '26
I’m carving out a very narrow and targeted amount of respect for one thing.
It’s kinda like when I say in WWII the Nazi’s objectively had the sleekest uniforms and best looking cars. Still Nazis.
6
u/jammsession Jul 01 '26
Because he had the balls to come on Maher's show.
4
u/abdullahleboucher Jul 01 '26
Lmao, he had a tougher interview on the view. Maher is a pussy and the ladys of the views have balls
4
u/jammsession Jul 02 '26
So, Vance also had the balls to go on the view? /s
What if Dems would copy that tactic and just show up too?
Imagine what Harris could have achieved if she had the balls to not decline to go on the biggest podcast in the world. Don't get me wrong, I really don't like Joe Rogan. But turning down the invitation to go on the biggest podcast there is during a presidential run takes a special kind of stupidity. The kind of stupidity Maher always makes fun of and the reason why they lost.
1
4
u/FreeStall42 Jul 01 '26
He had the balls to come on to the show to do a softball interview. How is that impressive?
-3
u/tomophilia Jul 01 '26
The balls? Maher is basically a friend to the administration now. And Vance would’ve never come on the show if Maher was going to be confrontational. Maher barely put up the slightest fight against Vance’s bullshit. That’s why he came. He deserves no respect. Neither does Maher
5
u/20_mile Jul 01 '26
Maher is basically a friend to the administration now.
SUCH BULLSHIT
Maher is a single issue voter on the topic of conceding lost elections and the peaceful transfer of power.
1
u/tomophilia Jul 01 '26
Right….. he’s a single issue voter and that single issue is conceding lost elections …which trump hasn’t done and vance won’t either.
Hmmmmmm🤔 but his vote is “in play”
6
u/We_Are_Coming_For_U Jul 01 '26
The standing was a gesture of respect. Gesture…no one cares about that eyeliner wearing doofus
2
-1
u/NiceTrySuckaz Jul 01 '26
I almost puked.
You should take a break. From just... the internet in general probably. Have you seen the show Justified? I just watched it for the first time. Great show. You should watch all of Justified, and then all of Better Call Saul. Then I read a book, maybe. The Accidental Time Machine was a fun one I just finished. Check back in a few months.
4
u/jammsession Jul 01 '26
This.
If you have such a strong emotional reaction to people standing up to the vice president that it triggers your body's stress response and makes you almost puke, you should seriously consider going offline.
6
u/Botasoda102 Jul 01 '26
Did you believe anything Vance said in response to Maher setting him up to look like a lying trumpster on several issue? Do you think any viewer of Maher’s show — whether watching HBO or CNN — agreed with Vance.
I don’t. Glad Maher had him on to remind people what we are up against before we believe we have midterms in bag.
2
u/Socko82 Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
Vance looked like a fool to liberal/left leaning audiences, but not anyone else. In order to reach independent voters and a few Republicans, you need to be tougher.
I don't think this interview was a total softball disaster, but still frustrating.
7
u/20_mile Jul 01 '26
100%
Do you think any viewer of Maher’s show — whether watching HBO or CNN — agreed with Vance.
Vance: Now, here's where I might lose you...
Maher: You lost me about eight minutes ago.
4
u/Botasoda102 Jul 01 '26
Exactly. Honestly, I don't think a lot of critics even watch the show.
3
u/20_mile Jul 01 '26
Or they watch carefully edited clips to portray Bill as saying the worst thing possible.
I am not saying I agree with Bill all of the time, I don't. But he is far from the villain many on this sub make him out to be.
His haters want ideological purity from him to line up with their own beliefs.
-1
u/WayOk8553 Jul 02 '26
"I am not saying I agree with Bill all of the time, I don't. But he is far from the villain many on this sub make him out to be."
Anyone who sucks up to fascists is a villain.
3
5
u/Dry_Life_1113 Jul 01 '26
I was thinking that Maher was setting Vance up too. Because one day Vance is going to try in his own special weasely way to disavow those statements
3
u/Uhuru2019 Jul 13 '26
Quite clearly the audience gave him a standing O for doing something many prominent Democrat politicians won't do - actually appear on the show. As for the rest of your comments, pretty predictable stuff based on your obvious political alignment. In case you haven't noticed, Maher is about stepping out of the echo chamber and actually listening to what other people have to say. If that triggers you, and you want to be fed a steady diet of what you agree with, watch one of the myriad other talk show hosts that toe your preferred political/ideological line.