Bill Maher Criticizes California’s Political Stance and Educational Performance

Comedian and podcast host Bill Maher spoke about California’s unwavering support for the Democratic Party on Monday. In a conversation with David Foster on “Club Random,” Maher stated that California voters would back a Democrat no matter the policy outcomes, as long as Donald Trump remains associated with the Republican Party.

Maher highlighted Spencer Pratt, a Republican who came third in Los Angeles’ mayoral race, noting Pratt’s view of California as having a “failed system.” Maher agreed, stating, “We’re so partisan now, we accept failure, which we plainly have here in California, over voting for the party of Trump.” He criticized Trump for various actions, including not conceding elections and failing in execution on issues like border control and nuclear disarmament.

Maher emphasized that as long as Trump remains, California will not vote Republican, no matter how poor the Democratic leadership becomes, calling it a problematic situation. Psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert echoed Maher’s concern, telling Fox News Digital that once politics become part of one’s identity, individuals often excuse their party’s failings. Politicians facing unconditional voter support lack accountability, Alpert added.

Maher also criticized the idea of government-run grocery stores, comparing them unfavorably to those in Cuba and the Soviet Union. He and Foster agreed that such models “don’t work.” On the topic of educational failures, Maher has been openly critical of California policies, highlighting their underperformance in areas central to Democratic campaigning.

In a “Real Time” show in July, Maher compared California’s policies on education and green energy unfavorably to states like Mississippi and Texas. He cited fourth-grade proficiency scores, noting that Black Mississippi students outperform their Californian counterparts in math and reading at a fraction of the cost. In particular, Black fourth graders in Mississippi are reportedly 2.5 times more likely to achieve proficiency than those in California.

According to a February 9, 2026, article from the New York Times, national testing shows Black Mississippi fourth-graders at 19% proficiency in reading and 22% in math, significantly higher than California’s figures. Maher used these examples to stress California’s educational challenges and the gap between expectations and outcomes.