INTERVIEW: Controversial Comedian Bill Maher
For his decades-long career, comedian and commentator Bill Maher has skewered cherished customs and beliefs. Whether on his HBO show “Real Time with Bill Maher,” in his documentary film “Religulous,” or doing stand-up, he doesn’t shy away from controversy. Politics, drugs, faith — nothing is sacred. He’ll be performing in Birmingham this Sunday, but WBHM’s Dan Carsen caught up with him first. It’s a serious conversation, but it starts out on a light note, and ranges far and wide from there. The on-air five-minute version is above. An extended web-only 18-minute version is below.
Subject and time pegs for the extended interview are below:
0:23 — The theological question of whether the Devil is in charge of the Anti-Christ, or vice-versa.
1:04 — Is Bill Maher preaching to the (secular) choir?
1:45 — Most Democrats are believers, too.
2:15 — The question of safety from fundamentalist extremists.
3:02 — Carsen asks whether Maher can see the good religion can do.
3:51 — Maher objects to the question of whether he’s an atheist or an agnostic.
4:44 — “The Gospel of ‘I Don’t Know.'”
5:15 — “We used to believe in Zeus and Thor…”
5:28 — Carsen asks Maher why he’s so anti-religion.
5:49 — “9-11 was a faith-based initiative.”
7:03 — Carsen asks Maher about his role models.
8:02 — A decades-old quote from Maher on why he won’t run for office.
9:54 — Maher’s thoughts on future elections.
10:00 — Carsen asks about creative freedom at HBO.
10:50 — “9-11 changed everything, made people a little crazy.”
12:25 — Maher’s opinions on teaching religion in public schools as history or sociology.
14:15 — If Maher were king, he/we would address climate change and punish polluters with jail time.
15:05 — Carsen asks Maher if he smokes marijuana — which Maher believes should be legal — before shows.
16:53 — What to expect at Maher’s show at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex on Sunday.
As deadline for Trump’s colleges compact looms, schools signal dissent
Of the original nine schools that received the Trump administration's Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, the majority have indicated they are not planning on signing.
Can collagen supplements improve your skin? Here’s what the research shows
With age comes wisdom. And wrinkles. And joint pain. In wellness circles, the buzz is that collagen supplements can help with all these concerns. But are these claims something you should swallow?
Centrist Rodrigo Paz wins Bolivia’s presidential runoff, topping right-wing rival
Centrist senator Rodrigo Paz won Bolivia's presidency with 54% of the vote, ending 20 years of rule by the Movement Toward Socialism party amid economic turmoil.
Trump announces tariffs and an end to U.S. aid to Colombia amid clash over drug trade
The U.S. will slash assistance to Colombia and enact tariffs on its exports because the country's leader, Gustavo Petro, "does nothing to stop" drug production, President Donald Trump said Sunday.
Sam Rivers, bassist and founding member of Limp Bizkit, dies aged 48
"Sam Rivers wasn't just our bass player — he was pure magic. The pulse beneath every song, the calm in the chaos, the soul in the sound," Limp Bizkit said in a social media post Saturday.
Israel strikes Gaza as both IDF and Hamas accuse each other of breaching ceasefire
The Israel Defense Forces said Sunday it responded after "terrorists" attacked troops operating in the Rafah area with gunfire and an anti-tank missile. Hamas said it was unaware of the clashes.
