# Real Time with Bill Maher **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 10, 2023, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367 "2023-10-10T21:03:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 54
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1061 "2025-04-24T22:10:55Z")
Loomer apparently never heard of the Streisand effect. > [@](#): > > [According to] the Complaint[,] Plaintiff Laura Loomer is …a "conservative, Republican, Jewish (bolding added) female activist. Oh, shit. Couldn’t she convert to something more appropriate, like Scientology? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1062 "2025-04-24T22:11:54Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Loomer apparently never heard of the Streisand effect. Or she’s counting on it. She needs to stay in the public eye somehow. It certainly isn’t from any kind of actual talent. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1063 "2025-04-24T22:17:51Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Perhaps his ass kissing was an attempt to diffuse the situation. Maher doesn’t need to diffuse any situation with Trump (the recipient of the derriere-smooching)—Trump will LOVE the idea that people think he’s being serviced by Loomer. Therefore Trump will be pleased by the attention the lawsuit is bringing to this allegation. Maybe you have a point as far as Maher’s “he’s gracious” message diffusing some general right-wing animus toward him, though. Some of them may be coming to see him as being On Their side. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1064 "2025-04-24T22:26:22Z")
This sounds like a potential use of the Tucker Carlson “I can’t harm someone by making defamatory allegations against them, because everyone already knows I’m completely full of shit” defense. You could also try the Lenny Dykstra “This person can’t be defamed, because he is so widely hated that it’s impossible to further damage his reputation” gambit. ITSM that his comment was pretty clearly a puerile and misogynist “joke”, and was also framed as something he thought might be happening, but didn’t claim to have any actual evidence that it was. I doubt this lawsuit will get far. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1065 "2025-04-24T23:38:12Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > ITSM that his comment was pretty clearly a puerile and misogynist “joke”, and was also framed as something he thought might be happening, but didn’t claim to have any actual evidence that it was. I doubt this lawsuit will get far. Well, as the link I cited above shows, it survived a motion to dismiss, meaning it is legally sufficient for consideration by a finder of fact). From that link (quoting the judge’s ruling, from January) > [@](#): > > Loomer alleges that Maher stated _as a fact_ that Loomer “might” be “fucking” President Trump, a married man, which she claims was and is false and which is capable of being proven false. Maher’s use of the term “might” does not automatically render Maher’s statements protected opinion or conjecture. _See McQueen v. Baskin_ (Fla. App. 2023) (stating: “Simply couching such statements in terms of opinion does not dispel these implications; and the statement, ‘In my opinion Jones is a liar,’ can cause as much damage to reputation as the statement, ‘Jones is a liar.’”) (citing _Lipsig v. Ramlawi_ (Fla. App. 2000) (“However, a speaker cannot invoke a ‘pure opinion’ defense, if the facts underlying the opinion are false or inaccurately presented.”))…. > > While Defendants may view Maher’s statements as “speculative joking,” he made them during a non-comedic and serious panel discussion with conservative pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson and former U.S. Senator Al Franken that involved topics such as alleged police brutality. Also, and, as Loomer points out, when Maher told the purported “joke” about Loomer, “it drew more groans from the audience than sparse laughter.” So Defendants’ motion to dismiss is denied to the extent the motion argues that the subject statements were not about facts… > **[Bill Maher's Saying Trump "Might Be" "Fucking" Republican Activist Laura...](https://reason.com/volokh/2025/01/16/bill-mahers-saying-trump-might-be-fucking-republican-activist-laura-loomer-might-be-defamation-of-loomer/)** > > An excerpt from today's decision in Loomer v. Maher, by Judge James Moody (M.D. Fla.): the Complaint Plaintiff Laura Loomer is a "well-known conservative ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1066 "2025-04-25T00:29:44Z")
Yeah, I read the decision. At this point, the judge has to assume that everything the plaintiff claims is in fact true, so I’m not surprised the case went forward. I think it will fall apart when they get to the point of actually evaluating the truth of said claims. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1067 "2025-04-25T00:57:51Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > I think it will fall apart when they get to the point of actually evaluating the truth of said claims I don’t think she prevails, either. I think it will be hard to prove that this actually damaged her reputation. But it’s not enough to just say that Maher was joking. And, to return to my original point, I can see a smug Maher thinking that he is “manipulating” Trump with a little flattery in order to get a favorable call that pushes a settlement of the case. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1068 "2025-04-25T01:51:10Z")
Not a lawyer, but it seems to me the salient point isn’t whether he was joking. It’s the fact that he didn’t present this as anything other than a thought that had occurred to him. He made it clear that he wasn’t actually claiming to have any evidence that it was true. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1069 "2025-04-25T10:40:42Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > I don’t know if it’s relevant, but Maher and his show are facing a lawsuit by Laura Loomer over a joke that Maher did regarding a supposed affair with Trump. She’s suing for $150 million. > > [Bill Maher's Saying Trump "Might Be" "Fucking" Republican Activist Laura Loomer Might Be Defamation of Loomer](https://reason.com/volokh/2025/01/16/bill-mahers-saying-trump-might-be-fucking-republican-activist-laura-loomer-might-be-defamation-of-loomer/) > > Perhaps his ass kissing was an attempt to **diffuse** the situation. Pretty sure the word you wanted was _defuse_. Don’t feel bad. It’s (maddeningly) common. Anyway, that Hope whateverhernameis woman probably has a superior cause of action against Ms Loomer for horning in when Ms whateverhernameis had already called “dibs.” ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1070 "2025-04-25T13:56:18Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Pretty sure the word you wanted was _defuse_. “Diffuse” can mean “spread over a wide area” which kind of works if you’re talking about kissing Trump’s ass. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1071 "2025-04-25T14:25:07Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Not a lawyer, but it seems to me the salient point isn’t whether he was joking. It’s the fact that he didn’t present this as anything other than a thought that had occurred to him. He made it clear that he wasn’t actually claiming to have any evidence that it was true. But he didn’t pull that thought out of left field. There were rumors abounding, mostly due to to the fact that at the time Loomer was traveling with Trump frequently and when they were photographed together during that time, their body language hinted at physical closeness. Then fellow troll Milo Yiannapolis jumped in with this tweet > True or not, I don’t know, I tend to think not but only because I have trouble believing Trump can get it up. But Maher didn’t just pull it out of nowhere. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1072 "2025-04-25T14:46:30Z")
The pleadings say that Loomer can _prove_ it never happened. I’m definitely curious to see how they do _that._ ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1073 "2025-04-25T14:57:42Z")
Also Milo: > It’s difficult to imagine that Trump’s enjoyment of anything Ms. Loomer may or may not have done to Trump would exceed the enjoyment that Trump would get from – hypothetically – doing something similar to Mr. Putin. In theory. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1074 "2025-04-25T17:20:10Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > > > Pretty sure the word you wanted was _defuse_. > > “Diffuse” can mean “spread over a wide area” which kind of works if you’re talking about kissing Trump’s ass. Yes, and _reign_ can mean “assume control of.” Doesn’t make _free reign_ any less discordant. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1075 "2025-04-25T17:24:01Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Doesn’t make _free reign_ any less discordant. I don’t disagree. My comment: [![](https://media0.giphy.com/media/xT9IgHCTfp8CRshfQk/200w.gif) ](https://media0.giphy.com/media/xT9IgHCTfp8CRshfQk/200w.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1076 "2025-04-25T17:37:08Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Yes, and _reign_ can mean “assume control of.” Doesn’t make _free reign_ any less discordant. Rain is always free. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1077 "2025-04-25T19:01:46Z")
Not in Colorado. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1078 "2025-05-11T05:18:43Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > Maher made a living from saying mean things about Trump. Can any of you allow – even just the slightest little bit – that what Maher did is as much an act of self-preservation as it was gleefully dining with Hitler? Then be could have said the barest minimum about the dinner and STFU, rather than fan excessively over how gracious Trump was and how he could talk about anything and about how he held Trump’s feet to the fire over Trump’s statements about running for a third term. If it’s an act of self-preservation, don’t go around chastising critics for how unfair they are being. Smile and say “opinions vary” or whatever, but don’t be a smug ass about how much better Trump was than Obama would have been. Or apologize for every bad thing he ever said about Trump, then get the fuck off the air because he’s proven he has no integrity left. By the way, Jackass Maher, you didn’t “hold his feet to the fire”. You don’t even remember what he actually said. And it’s not like you “have any power. [You’re] a fucking comedian.” Dipshit. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1079 "2025-05-11T11:50:05Z")
I think Bill Maher’s career exists to make me admire John Oliver more. Now that man is funny and has integrity. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1080 "2025-05-11T16:26:05Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Now that man is funny and has integrity. His segments on Subway alone are praiseworthy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367.md?page=53) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367.md?page=55)