Real Time with Bill Maher host Bill Maher ripped into CNN over the weekend for not having “actual debate” with conservatives on the news network.
The 69-year-old comedian and political commentator appeared on Pod Save America on Sunday, where he castigated the network for hosting “Lonely Scott Jennings” as a token conservative on the network’s panels.
Jennings is a conservative commentator, columnist, and senior commentator on CNN, where he has become known for his unapologetic defenses of President Donald Trump—as well as the many heated conflicts that he’s instigated.
Maher told podcast host Jon Lovett that “six people” get to talk on CNN panels and “after whatever they’re gonna say, and usually I agree with those people, then Lonely Scott gets to talk. I do like having an actual debate.”
Maher continued, “This idea that they have some people that you shouldn’t platform. I’ve lost fans, certainly, and even people who were friends because they were so mad at me that I had on Real Time, people like Ted Cruz and Bill Barr. He was the attorney general. I’m not gonna talk to this man?"
Lovett said that Pod Save America has platformed more conservative voices within the last few years.
“I think in the early years of this company, we were much more reluctant in part because we were trying to be a platform for progressive voices,” he explained.
“But as we’ve grown, we’ve realized that we want to have more conservative voices on to challenge them because we want to be at the center of that kind of a debate,” said Lovett.
Maher is known for having controversial guests from across the political spectrum on his popular HBO talk show. In October, he lambasted those who would take issue with him hosting conservative talk radio host Buck Sexton on Real Time.
Maher chastised his fellow Hollywood liberals for their political intolerance, telling Sexton, “I have no patience for people like this. They can kiss my a--. I will talk to you all day.”
Maher said about former MAGA congressman Matt Gaetz during a Real Time segment earlier this month, “I had him on my podcast. Everybody’s a monster ‘til you talk to them.”
The audience and panel were shocked by Maher’s remarks.
Gaetz was the subject of a sex scandal—including allegations that he paid for sex, used illegal drugs and slept with a 17-year-old-girl. He has repeatedly denied all of the accusations.
The 42-year-old resigned from congress last year after being nominated for attorney general by President Donald Trump—but later dropped out of the running after his scandals resurfaced.
