HBO’s “Real Time” host Bill Maher appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last night, where he did something rarely heard on late-night shows anymore: he mocked both the “liberal media” for their misleading, hyperbolic coronavirus coverage, and the woke left for buying into it.
Discussing his tour dates, Maher told Kimmel how blue states were hard to book, because of the media, giving an example from the New York Times:
MAHER: Now the reason why this is relevant, I have to cite a survey that was in the “New York Times,” which is a liberal paper so they weren’t looking for this answer. But they were talking about — the question was, what do you think the chances are that you would have to go to the hospital if you got Covid? And Democrats thought that was way higher than Republicans. 41% of Democrats — the answer is between 1% and 5%.
KIMMEL: Okay.
MAHER: 40% of Democrats thought it was over 50%. Another 28% thought it was 20% to 49%. 70% of Democrats thought it was way, way, way higher than it really was.
That’s when Maher blamed the “liberal media” for this gross misconception among Democrats:
“Liberal media has to take a little responsibility for that. For scaring the [ bleep ] out of people. And the reason why I’m bringing this up is because it’s much harder for every touring act to sell tickets in blue states,” he remarked, adding liberals were “afraid to go outside!”
Kimmel, who has repeatedly bashed red states for not having as strict of Covid measures and lockdowns, pointed out to Maher that he caught the virus. Maher snarked back, “I know you and your boyfriend, Howard Stern — [ laughter ] are very paranoid about this. It’s a little weird that I got it after, but many, many, many people have had the same situation,” he said adding, “Bottom line, if you’re vaccinated, you almost never die from it.”
The late night host then asked Maher if he was bothered by getting rebuffed by both the right and left because he hit both sides. But he didn’t care, calling out the far-left’s nastiness:
MAHER: Well I don’t pay attention to it like, read Twitter. I’m not stupid. You know, I mean — I gave up, really, tweeting a lot. I mean, sometimes. But, like, why? Everything I would want to say on Twitter, I can’t say on Twitter… I’d be killed. I can say good morning. And the first ten responses would be, ‘well, I guess with your white privilege it’s a good morning!’
His guest suggested people stop talking about politics so much and live and let live. “You want to know how to heal America? Shut up…stop talking politics all the time,” he said, calling for more tolerance for “people who don’t think like you,” [click expand]:
MAHER:Well, that’s a great question. And to me, one of the keys to that is to stop talking about it. Stop talking politics. When I was a kid, you may remember the same thing, people didn’t talk politics all the time. There was no Facebook. You know? Facebook should go back to being what it should be, humble brags, cat videos. [ Laughter ] Finding out who from high school is gay, fat, or dead. [ Laughter ] But instead — instead it’s people arguing with some kid you went to third grade with about Brett Kavanaugh.
KIMMEL: Uh-huh. [Laughing]
MAHER: You want to know how to heal America? Shut up. Shut the hell up. [ Applause ] Stop talking politics all the time. Stop trying to convince people. It’s a big country with lots of people who don’t think like you, no matter what side you’re on, and you’re not going to convince them, just accept it like you do in a relationship. [ Laughter ]
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Read the transcript below:
Jimmy Kimmel Live
9/16/21
JIMMY KIMMEL:On November 13th. You’ll be in Madison Square Garden.
BILL MAHER: New York. [ Cheers and applause ] Now the reason why this is relevant, I have to cite a survey that was in the “New York Times,” which is a liberal paper so they weren’t looking for this answer. But they were talking about — the question was, what do you think the chances are that you would have to go to the hospital if you got covid? And Democrats thought that was way higher than Republicans. 41% of Democrats — the answer is between 1% and 5%.
KIMMEL: Okay.
MAHER: 40% of Democrats thought it was over 50%. Another 28% thought it was 20% to 49%. 70% of Democrats thought it was way, way, way higher than it really was. Liberal media has to take a little responsibility for that. For scaring the [ bleep ] out of people. And the reason why I’m bringing this up is because it’s much harder for every touring act to sell tickets in blue states.
KIMMEL: Oh, interesting.
MAHER: They’re afraid to go out of the house.
KIMMEL: I see.
MAHER: Whereas in red states, it’s all good to go.
KIMMEL: Uh-huh.
MAHER: So I just want to say to those people in Pittsburgh and New York, I ain’t going to give it to you, I promise. It’s safe. We’re doing everything we can. There’s distancing. There’s masking. Enjoy. Live life.
KIMMEL: You did get it.
MAHER: Embrace life. [ Applause ]
KIMMEL: You did get it.
MAHER: I got it after I was vaccinated.
KIMMEL: After you were vaccinated, right, and you –
MAHER: I had no symptoms. That may be because I was vaccinated. But let’s not even get into that. I know you and your boyfriend, Howard Stern — [ laughter ] Are very paranoid about this. It’s a little weird that I got it after, but many, many, many people have had the same situation.
KIMMEL: Yes, I know people have.
MAHER: Bottom line, if you’re vaccinated, you almost never die from it. So look, I’m for whatever is getting America back to where I can see the James Bond movie in the theater. [ Cheers and applause ]
KIMMEL: One of the things I think is interesting about you, I think we all experience this, but you in particular experience it I think from both sides. Where, you know, half of the country is mad at you one week, the other half is mad at you the other week.
MAHER: Right.
KIMMEL: Does that concern you? Do you pay attention to it? Does it bother you?
MAHER: Well I don’t pay attention to it like, read Twitter. I’m not stupid. You know, I mean — I gave up, really, tweeting a lot. I mean, sometimes. But, like, why? Everything I would want to say on Twitter, I can’t say on Twitter.
KIMMEL: Okay.
MAHER: I’d be killed. I can say good morning. And the first ten responses would be, well, I guess with your white privilege it’s a good morning.
KIMMEL: [laughing] There is a bit of that, yeah.
…
KIMMEL: There is a lot of fear in the air in general. You wouldn’t want to be caught applauding something that might be controversial.
MAHER: I could give a [ bleep ]. [ Laughter ] [ Cheers and applause ]
KIMMEL:But do you think we’re ever going to — there’s ever going to be a time where — do you think it’s possible, even that we can come together?
MAHER:Well, that’s a great question. And to me, one of the keys to that is to stop talking about it. Stop talking politics. When I was a kid, you may remember the same thing, people didn’t talk politics all the time. There was no Facebook. You know? Facebook should go back to being what it should be, humble brags, cat videos. [ Laughter ] Finding out who from high school is gay, fat, or dead. [ Laughter ] But instead — instead it’s people arguing with some kid you went to third grade with about Brett Kavanaugh.
KIMMEL: Uh-huh. [Laughing]
MAHER: You want to know how to heal America? Shut up. Shut the hell up. [ Applause ] Stop talking politics all the time. Stop trying to convince people. It’s a big country with lots of people who don’t think like you, no matter what side you’re on, and you’re not going to convince them, just accept it like you do in a relationship. [ Laughter ]