Bill Maher Defends Interviewing Vice President JD Vance on His Show: ‘I Like to Actually Talk’
Democrat Bill Maher is speaking out after facing criticism for how he handled his interview with Vice President JD Vance.
“They would never be happy unless JD Vance walked out and I punched him in the nose,” Maher, 70, told Fox News Digital in an interview published on Monday, June 29. “That’s the only thing that would satisfy certain people. I don’t play that game. I like to actually talk to people.”
Maher faced backlash after he interviewed Vance on the Friday, June 26, episode of “Real Time With Bill Maher,” with some viewers claiming that he was not aggressive enough with his questions concerning Vance and President Donald Trump’s policies. Vance appeared on the show to promote his new faith book, Communion, becoming the first sitting vice president to be featured on the HBO show.
“Throughout their interview, Maher seemed outmatched, with Vance talking circles around him,” a Variety article reads. “And, for someone who spends every Friday night railing against the Trump administration, he treated its vice president with kid gloves.”
Related: Meghan McCain Slams The View's ‘Undisciplined’ Hosts for JD Vance Interview
Meghan McCain is not impressed with her former colleagues at The View for how they handled Vice President JD Vance’s appearance. “My biggest takeaway from Vance on The View is honestly how s****y and undisciplined the hosts STILL ARE,” McCain, 41, wrote via X on Tuesday, June 16. “After all these years, they still get […]On Sunday, June 28, Maher accepted the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor and detailed his conversation with Vance, sharing that their talk didn’t change his opinion on the vice president. Maher also noted that he “talks to these guys all the time,” referring to Republicans and high-level politicians.
“Everybody’s a monster till you talk to them,” he said, referring to interviews with Republicans. “Are there things we’re never going to agree on? Yeah.”
While he has disagreements with politicians, Maher shared that those conversations — like the one he had with Vance — don’t tend to turn “hateful.”
“They’re happy warriors,” he said, referencing Vance and other Republicans he has interviewed. “You hit them with three really, really hard-hitting things that say ‘you can’t keep doing it,’ and they just answer it. They evade it. But they don’t hold it against you. It doesn’t turn hateful.”
Related: Why Is Jimmy Kimmel 'Very Mad' at Bill Maher? Inside Their Feud
Jimmy Kimmel and Bill Maher have not been seeing eye-to-eye lately. During the Monday, February 9, episode of Maher’s “Club Random” podcast, the talk show host sat down with Kimmel’s longtime friend Adam Carolla. At one point during their conversation, Maher, 70, opened up about the ongoing tension between him and Kimmel. “Jimmy Kimmel, he’s […]During the conversation with Vance, Maher made headlines when he admitted that he could see himself voting Republican in the future.
“If this is where the Democratic party is going… this obsession with Israel, with the Jew-hating, with they don’t believe in capitalism, no prisons, if this is where they’re going, my vote is in play,” Maher said. “It’s either going to be you or [Marco] Rubio.”
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Deal Alert! This 44%-Off Throw-On Mini Dress Is Too Good to Leave in Your Cart View DealHe continued, “Here’s my dealbreaker for your side. Under Trump, you guys have two outcomes that an election can be, either we win or they cheated. That s*** has to stop. And that means the person who has to stop it will be you, or Marco. Can you tell me you will do that?”
Vance replied,“OK, Bill, so this is where I’m probably going to lose ya there. I don’t think we should not concede elections, but I don’t think that’s what’s going on … The biggest criticism I had of the 2020 election is that you had technology companies that were quite literally censoring negative information about the left and promoting negative information about the right.” (Progressive research center Media Matters showed that Facebook and other social media platforms promoted right-leaning content more than left-leaning content.)
“Well, you’re going to get a big pat on the back when you go back to the White House,” Maher retorted.
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5 Songs You Didn't Know Brian Wilson Wrote For Other Famous Musicians - Grunge
5 Songs You Didn't Know Brian Wilson Wrote For Other Famous Musicians
By Brian Boone June 30, 2026 6:07 pm EST
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Widely regarded as a genius musical mind, Brian Wilson was such a prolific and generous songwriter that he lent his talents to bands and singers beyond his own Beach Boys. A studio wizard and innovator who preferred perfecting recordings to playing in front of audiences (while also experiencing mental health issues), Wilson wrote by himself and excitedly collaborated with other composers, too. Sometimes, he figured a gem of a pop or surf rock song he'd written, or even partially recorded, would be better suited to musicians outside of his band or out of his control.
At any rate, Wilson's stylistic fingerprints are all over American rock 'n' roll of the 1960s, far beyond the Beach Boys. So many other surf rock acts, in particular, benefitted from Wilson's musical mentorship and contributions. These bands got to taste a bit of the limelight and success with major label tunes and even charting hit singles that sound like they could've come from nobody else but Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.
Surf City — Jan & Dean
Both Jan & Dean and the Beach Boys are important to the story of surf rock in the 1960s. Jan & Dean were lumped in with the Beach Boys because they similarly employed extraordinary harmonies and performed songs about surfing and cars. That all tracks because Brian Wilson, ambitious creative architect of the Beach Boys' sound, helped break Jan & Dean. The two bands became acquainted when they played the same Southern California events. In 1962, Jan Berry's manager connected his client with Wilson to create a songwriting duo, and they hit it off.
One of the first collections of musical bones Wilson brought Berry was a fun and frivolous surfing celebration song called "Surf City." As recorded by Jan & Dean, it spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1963, preceding the Beach Boys' first chart-topper, "I Get Around," by about a year. It was also the first surf-themed song to ever top the chart. Out of Jan & Dean's 14 total Top 40 hit singles, Wilson helped write six. Along with "Surf City," that list includes "Drag City," "Dead Man's Curve," "The New Girl in School," "Ride the Wild Surf," and "Sidewalk Surfin.'"
Guess I'm Dumb — Glen Campbell
In the midst of October 1964 recording sessions for the album "The Beach Boys Today!", Brian Wilson created the instrumental backing track for "Guess I'm Dumb," a song he'd composed with songwriter Russ Titelman. Somewhat tongue-in-cheek but also conciliatory, it depicts a character lamenting a romantic breakup, for which he takes full responsibility owing to his own perceived stupidity. As Wilson recalled in his memoir "I Am Brian Wilson," the song took around 23 takes. "It took a while to get it right because I was trying something more adult," he explained. "I was trying to score a Burt Bacharach vibe." When it was all finished, not a single one of the many vocalists in the Beach Boys was willing to record the lead vocal track. "The message was okay, but maybe it was just the idea of being dumb," Wilson theorized.
But he soon found another colleague who was willing to give it a shot. Wilson truly hated performing, which is why at the time, guitarist, vocalist, and future country megastar Glen Campbell had been filling in at Beach Boys concerts. And so, he's the one who got to sing it. Straddling the line between rock and country, Campbell was ramping up his solo career at the time. However, the single release of "Guess I'm Dumb" failed to appear on any major Billboard chart in 1965.
My Buddy Seat — The Hondells
During the surf rock craze of the 1960s, producer Gary Usher tried to get in on the fad, assembling a bunch of studio musicians and selling the project as a band called the Hondells. Their first single was a cover of the Beach Boys' pro-imported-motorcycle pop song "Little Honda." The track had debuted on the LP "All Summer Long" before the Hondells made it into a No. 9 hit in 1964. That song's writing credit went to Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, who took a more hands-on approach for the Hondells' next single, producing and, along with Usher, writing "My Buddy Seat."
While crafted in part by a Beach Boy and performed by a band designed to sound like the Beach Boys, "My Buddy Seat" essentially flopped, missing the Top 40. A group of guys taking on the roles of the Hondells appeared in the 1965 teen movie "Beach Ball," but that didn't move their commercial prospects very much.
Custom Machine — Bruce & Terry
The surf rock scene of the 1960s was a tight-knit one, with lots of band overlap. The Rip Chords had a No. 4 hit in 1964 with "Hey Little Cobra," and then singer and session musician Bruce Johnston and producer Terry Melcher (a celebrity connected to Charles Manson) formed a new vocals-forward act logically named Bruce & Terry. Between 1964 and 1966, the duo issued a string of singles for Columbia Records, and during that time, Johnston became a touring member of the Beach Boys to account for Brian Wilson choosing to stay in the studio and not play live.
Johnston's Beach Boys connection led to a professional relationship between his two bands. Bruce & Terry's first single, a surf rock song in praise of a souped-up automobile in the Beach Boys tradition, was titled "Custom Machine." Johnston and Melcher produced the song, which Wilson wrote entirely by himself. A very minor hit, "Custom Machine" topped out at No. 85 on the Billboard Hot 100.
He's a Doll — The Honeys
The Honeys, initially named the Rovell Sisters, are an overlooked, if not largely forgotten, vocally oriented "girl group" of the 1960s. After connecting with producer and Beach Boys associate Gary Usher, Brian Wilson set out to launch the Honeys into pop chart stardom. Of the Honeys' three 1963 singles, Wilson wrote and/or arranged them all, but the listening public didn't take notice.
After the Honeys shifted to Warner Bros. Records in 1964, Wilson continued to create material for the group, including the songs "I Can See Right Through You (Go Away Boy)," "The Love of a Boy and Girl," and "He's a Doll." Produced, arranged, and written by Wilson, the non-charting single was inspired by a favored catchphrase of the Honeys. "Brian would always notice when we saw a cute guy we would say, 'He's such a doll' so he picked up on it and wrote one of the great songs for us," Marilyn Rovell — later known as Marilyn Wilson after she and the Beach Boy married in December 1964 — told Rock Cellar.
19 Classy Three-Quarter-Sleeve Blouses That Magically Disguise Batwing Arms — From $4
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Aging, kids, life! Batwings happen to most of Us eventually, and they’re nothing to be ashamed of. But if they turn you off from tank tops and short sleeves, we feel you. That’s where three-quarter-sleeve blouses pull flattering magic, and get this: our favorite options start at just $4!
Chic, boutiquey and all sorts of slimming, three-quarter sleeves work behind the scenes to give you a look you’ll actually enjoy rocking. Not only do these designs effortlessly conceal your upper arms, but they also elevate your aesthetic. You’ll look slimmer and more confident wherever you go, so snag a blouse option for every summer occasion on your calendar. Nobody will ever know you’re trying to cover up!
19 Three-Quarter-Sleeve Blouses — From $4
1. Our Favorite: Throw on this polka dot top with white denim for brunch, and you’re done thinking about your outfit. The tie neck detail ensures it’s dressy enough for drinks later.
2. Crochet Chic: If basic tees feel boring but bold prints feel like too much, this crochet-trim blouse is the middle ground. The detailed hems add just enough flair to amp up basic bottoms.
3. Somewhere European: Stretchy fabric means exceptional comfort, and the busy print on this Mediterranean-print top keeps the eyes moving past trouble spots.
4. Mega Polished: When you need to look pulled together fast, this polished chiffon top is the ultimate solution. It’s still sleek and tailored, but the sleeves skim your arms instead of hugging them.
5. Yacht Wife: Cardigans feel heavy in July, but bare arms aren’t always the move. This summer-weight sweater solves both problems in one stylish piece.
Related: We‘re Swapping Black Swimsuits for Colorful, Slimming One-Pieces
Black swimsuits are touted for being slimming, but what if you could have the slimming effect of black with the style of something actually cute? Well, ladies, you can! Enter these 17 tummy-control swimsuits that are equally flattering, versatile and fun. Ruched fabric, shaping panels and cellulite-smoothing prints are just a few highlights of these […]6. Flattering Find: This belly-hiding blouse masterfully camouflages your midsection while the breezy sleeves conceal your upper arms. Somehow, it’s only $8!
7. Boutique Vibes: Skip the overpriced boutique. This petal-sleeve top gives you the same look at a fraction of the cost, especially in the floral print.
8. Flower Girl: This layered ruffle top pulls double duty, adding visual interest while disguising the part of your arm you’d rather keep hidden. It’s playful in the best way.
9. Rich Mom Alert: Want to look like you spent triple? This classy floral blouse reads mega expensive, thanks to the designer-like print and clean shape.
10. Detail Person: Wear this classy everyday top to a long lunch and the girls will notice the small details. With a hint of texture, solid colors never looked so good.
11. Simple Stunner: Speaking of which, loud prints aren’t for everyone. This understated linen-looking blouse doesn’t scream for attention, which is sometimes the whole point.
12. Sassy Stripes: Bell sleeves and crisp stripes give this striped knit elegance, movement and structure. Better yet, the medium-weight fabric smoothes from every angle.
13. Mock-Neck Maven: Pair this mock-neck top with high-waisted trousers and you’ll look two inches taller. The vertical line is subtly elongating.
14. Cute and Classy: Wear this dressy-casual blouse to a school event, a midday meeting or a weekend lunch and feel perfectly dressed. It truly works for it all.
15. Luxe Linen: Pure linen wrinkles in minutes. Thankfully, this linen-blend top incorporates cotton to keep the airy feel. . . while actually surviving the car ride to dinner.
16. Budget-Friendly: Grab this budget-friendly top in two colors and keep one at the office for emergencies. At this price, why not?
17. Button-Up Babe: This printed button-up shirt brings sophistication that a simple blouse can’t match. Wear it tucked, knotted or open over a tank.
18. Cool Mom: A loose fit ensures that this relaxed T-shirt design nails the same easy, low-effort polish you’d find on the Upper East Side. Arm coverage is the ultimate bonus.
19. Expensive Aesthetic: Embroidery is the shortcut to looking like you spent more. This boutique-style blouse delivers that artisan feel without the markup.
Related: Amazon‘s Bestselling Summer Dresses Are So Boutique-Worthy — From $10
If you love expensive boutique style, welcome to the club. Instead of actually browsing at high-end boutiques, we found a way to satisfy our pricey taste on a budget — and there’s zero shopper’s guilt involved. Amazon’s bestsellers list is overflowing with dreamy dresses that could easily pass for luxe-looking finds. The only difference? They […]In this article:
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