HBO host Bill Maher criticized local government for how officials handled the wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles in the closing monologue of his show on Friday.
The “Real Time” host criticized local officials for being unprepared and prioritizing DEI initiatives over effective fire response. He also attacked the city's Democratic mayor, Karen Bass, over his presence abroad When the fires started in Los Angeles County.
“Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, nero of American politics, was messing around in Ghana while the city burned.” Maher said.
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HBO host Bill Maher criticized Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for her response to this week's wildfires. (Bob Reha Jr./Contributor | Rodin Eckenroth/Stringer)
Maher blasted the government for not having the resources to fight the fires, and shared an article from Axios about how complicated it is To get water From fire hydrants in Pacific Palisades, a Los Angeles neighborhood particularly devastated by fire.
The host saw this as a weak excuse, saying: “I'm sure it is. I'm sure it's very complicated. That's why I pay 13 percent of my income into the state every year to people who I assume are working on things.” “Like him.”
Maher tore down Bass' excuse for being unprepared. She was quoted as saying: Fires It was particularly bad because of “eight months of rain and minimal winds that Los Angeles had not seen in at least 14 years.”
The host laughed off the statement, saying, “Yes, it wasn't that long ago. Maybe look in the history books to see how our ancestors handled it in 2011.”
He also hit Bass for making cuts to the Los Angeles Fire Department. For the 2024-2025 fiscal year, Bass cut $17 million from the LAFD budget, after originally wanting to cut $23 million.
People view smoke and flames from the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on January 7, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Tiffany Rose/Getty Images)
As Maher noted, Bass insisted that the cuts did not affect the city's readiness. In response, he arose LAFD Chief Christine Crowley“A little different take.”
“She said, ‘We are screaming to get proper funding,'” the host said, adding, “Yes, the budget has been cut, and it has affected our ability to provide the service.”
He then mocked the city for appearing to prioritize DEI initiatives among its first responders. “We've just been kicked with fire, something Neanderthals fought to a draw. The good news is, our fire chief is gay,” he said, pointing at Crowley again.
Maher explained that he did not see anything wrong with having a gay president, but pointed out that she was chosen because of her sexual identity. “Or maybe they really want a lesbian in this job who is the best lesbian for the job, and with essential services, that's not good enough.”
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To support his hunch, Maher read from Crowley's LAFD bio, which states, “Chief Crowley leads a diverse department… creating, supporting and strengthening a culture that values diversity, inclusion and equality while striving to meet and exceed community expectations.” Communities…”
The host attacked the CV, saying, “Well, you didn't exceed my expectations, which is that the whole city wouldn't burn down. But it's telling that diversity is mentioned twice before we get to the 'during' – the 'struggling' to 'meet' expectations.”
Maher described his home state as a place that “spends money and gets nothing, which is why you may have noticed when the fires hit, no one ran off on high-speed rail.”
“We have the highest marginal tax rate in America, higher than almost all other states… What does that include? Breadsticks? Because obviously it doesn't cover the fire,” he said. “This is government's job. Protect us from crime, violence, theft and fires. I'm not saying the state of Alabama would have handled the fires better by fighting them with prayer at school, but look me in the eye and tell me anyone could have done worse.” “.
