In a statement on Twitter, The Intercept co-founder Jeremy Scahill announced that he would not be appearing on Real Time With Bill Maher this week due to the show’s decision to book controversial Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos. A frequent guest on Maher’s HBO show over the past several years, Scahill wrote, “Appearing on Real Time will provide Yiannopoulos with a large, important platform to openly advocate his racist, anti-immigrant campaign. It will be exploited by Yiannopoulos in an attempt to legitimize his hateful agenda. Yiannopoulos’s appearance could also be used to incite violence against immigrants, transgender people, and others at a time when the Trump administration is already seeking to formalize a war against some of the most vulnerable people in our society.” The show subsequently announced that retired intelligence officer Malcolm Nance will be taking Scahill’s place on the panel. Through a spokesperson, comedian Larry Wilmore confirmed to The Daily Beast that he will be appearing on the episode as scheduled.
