Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has taken a lot of heat from the left over his staunch support of Israel. This issue really came into focus after the October 7th attacks and impressed conservatives, while inflaming the progressive activist class in the Democratic party.
On Friday night, Fetterman sat down with Bill Maher, and this topic came up right away.
From Decider, via Yahoo News:
Bill Maher kicked off this week’s Real Time by addressing the palpable anxiety in Los Angeles — and doing what he does best: cracking a joke about it. “99% of us just want to know: is it safe to pick someone up at the airport?” he quipped in his opening monologue, setting the tone for an episode that mixed real concern with his signature cynicism.Maher, as always, walked a tightrope between doomscroll fatigue and comedic relief. “You know things are tense in L.A. when you read news about the Middle East to relax,” he added, before welcoming his first guest, Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman.The two men — both proud contrarians within the Democratic party — found common ground quickly. Their conversation, while often light in tone, touched on serious topics including the war in Gaza and intra-party criticism. Maher gave Fetterman room to respond to a recent critical New York magazine piece, as well as to speak frankly about his own ideological independence.“You talk to Trump,” Maher noted, referring to Fetterman’s occasional outreach across the aisle. “We all know that’s bad,” he added with an eye roll you could practically hear.Fetterman, never one to shy away from dramatic metaphors, said, “Parts of my party want to try to turn me into Colonel Kurtz.” Maher didn’t miss a beat: “You look like you could play the part.”
Watch the clip below:
Fetterman and Maher also agreed that the optics coming out of California are going to help Trump.
From FOX News:
John Fetterman and Bill Maher agree chaos in LA and Dem reaction to riots will be ‘good for Trump’Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and “Real Time” host Bill Maher agreed on Friday that the optics of Democrats defending the anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles will be “good for Trump” as scenes of chaos from the riots continue to go viral on social media.Maher noted that some on the left condemned Fetterman after he denounced the violence happening in the streets of Los Angeles and agreed that “it doesn’t do the Democratic Party any good to defend” the violent protests.Fetterman issued a strong message on X Monday evening denouncing the riots in L.A. and included a now-infamous photo showing a rioter standing on a car while waving the Mexican flag surrounded by raging flames.”I agree. When they see it in a campaign ad, when they see the guy with the Mexican flag and the Waymo burning behind him, it’s going to be good for Trump,” said Maher.
Here’s that clip:
Featured image via YouTube.
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