General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMaher on Obama Library: "Couldn't that money be better spent on something else? Who's going to go to this?"
snip
BILL MAHER: So you guys were both at the Obama Library? Do we have a picture of the Obama Library? Because it looks like...
[PICTURE]
JONATHAN MARTIN, POLITICO: The Death Star.
MAHER: It looks like something aliens built in Dubai. It cost $850 million? I don't understand why progressives like this. Couldn't that, you know, money be better spent on something else? Who's going to go to this? Why do we need a presidential library? Why does anyone need a presidential library?
snip
REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA0: At a time, Elon Musk is talking about sending people to Mars. You're telling me that spending up to a billion dollars, one billion dollars commemorating the first and only African American who's ever been president isn't worth it?
More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/maher-on-obama-library-couldn-t-that-money-be-better-spent-on-something-else-who-s-going-to-go-to-this/ar-AA269Yx8
.....................................................
Blue Owl
(59,991 posts)griloco
(875 posts)Last edited Sat Jun 20, 2026, 09:12 PM - Edit history (1)
?is=TrSYFZTp2fGsKP9athe nelm
(315 posts)Blue Owl
(59,991 posts)LymphocyteLover
(10,367 posts)KT2000
(22,272 posts)He did not let Bill's stupid comments pass. He did it as a history lesson for Bill too.
hopefully he will think twice before going on Maher's show again. That was one of the most obnoxious comments he has made.
I think for Bill it is still sour grapes because he'd donated $1 million to Obama's campaign and couldn't get a sit down interview with him. He is such a petty, little man.
KT2000
(22,272 posts)He has been on Bill's show many times and FOX too. He gets the message out where people need to hear it.
themaguffin
(5,515 posts)PatSeg
(53,949 posts)I don't watch either, so I didn't realize.
Blues Heron
(9,112 posts)BadgerMom
(3,466 posts)greatauntoftriplets
(179,531 posts)BattleRow
(2,746 posts)greatauntoftriplets
(179,531 posts)agingdem
(9,041 posts)sheshe2
(98,983 posts)2MuchNoise
(952 posts)sheshe2
(98,983 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(183,685 posts)Pisces
(6,370 posts)B.See
(9,053 posts)who flips like this. Kanye, Fetterman... I don't buy it. These are just revelations of truer selves.
rubbersole
(11,343 posts)JBTaurus83
(1,820 posts)The cost of all the dump golf trips. Im sorry I ever watched this worthless piece of shit.
B.See
(9,053 posts)Fuck Maher.
mcar
(46,525 posts)Fck him.
tanyev
(49,923 posts)Like spending trillions on a war that accomplished nothing except unnecessary destruction? Like retrofitting a free plane from Qatar that will be given away in a couple years? Like renovating buildings that dont need renovating?
Please, Bill, do enlighten us on how these projects are a much better use of TAXPAYER money.
Cha
(321,479 posts)Thanks for listing just some of the ways PEDO wastes OurTaxpayers $$$$
Presidential libraries are funded by private donations.. So what is fuckhead Maher whining about?
GP6971
(38,667 posts)Cha
(321,479 posts)underpants
(197,736 posts)KHANNA: I don't think most presidents need libraries. I do think that Obama's story is unique. I'm biased. I work for him. But it's a unique story of telling the possibility in this country of someone who had no shot.
You know, when I was in law school, when I interned, they said to me, well, you're Indian American. You're a Hindu faith. Go to the Capitol because you'll never get elected to anything. That's what I heard. And then Barack Obama happened. And he changed the direction of this nation for millions of people.
ALBliberal
(3,438 posts)STFU Maher. A person I used to watch and follow waaayyyy back in the day.
sheshe2
(98,983 posts)electric_blue68
(27,845 posts)Chicago is the one city I haven't yet visited; but want to. So maybe in 2 - 3 yrs if I can save up - there won't be such a wait. I'd want to go in May some time.
ALBliberal
(3,438 posts)We love Chicago period. And after recently going to LBJ library in Austin? So so excited.
electric_blue68
(27,845 posts)Income issue, but hoping I can somehow save enough to visit in 2-3 yrs.
Various reasons why I want to and now Obama's Library/Center is an extra one.
orleans
(37,418 posts)electric_blue68
(27,845 posts)Chicago is north of NYC; so snow chances might be around later; lake effect etc . The latest snow we ever got was around April 6 about ?12 yrs ago.
So I figure mild-ish Springtime weather which would be lovely.
Obvious climate change and local variables will play a factor ! 👍
orleans
(37,418 posts)weather & temps (i want to say back in march) and then more snow. hit and miss.
more recently bad storms.
if you stay for a week you're bound to get some good/great days.
electric_blue68
(27,845 posts)In turn; I'm always happy to give advice to people visiting NYC.
I'd monitor the weather closely as I make plans. Obviously it can vary, sometimes l surprisingly. (a bit of weather buff bc I love different cloud formations)
Don't think I could afford a week, but I'd heavily research, get DU Chicagoans latest suggestions etc, to make the best of what I'd stay, probably 3, or 4 days.
Beringia
(5,702 posts)SocialDemocrat61
(8,275 posts)
niyad
(135,216 posts)DET
(2,668 posts)SocialDemocrat61
(8,275 posts)who is destroying CBS News. They are good friends.
niyad
(135,216 posts)orleans
(37,418 posts)MustLoveBeagles
(18,200 posts)oasis
(54,269 posts)newdeal2
(5,643 posts)By the way, Bill, the numbers speak for themselves:
They aren't even offering tickets for sale for now because of all the demand.
paleotn
(23,039 posts)Just a little google searching could have come up with the fact you've pointed out and saved him from looking like a total douche on national TV. Then again, a douche has just got to douche I guess.
sheshe2
(98,983 posts)And I just read that there is free admission every Tuesday for Chicago residents!
orleans
(37,418 posts)i think it would be a great destination for school fieldtrips
sheshe2
(98,983 posts)I am watching a special on MS NOW: Hope Comes Home. A walk through of the gardens and interior, interviews etc. Pete Souza was talking about his time at the WH and showing some of the pictures he shot.
💙
sheshe2
(98,983 posts)And I just read that there is free admission every Tuesday for Chicago residents!
mcar
(46,525 posts)Thank you for this.
perdita9
(1,369 posts)Bill Maher can go @#$% himself.
paleotn
(23,039 posts)More Jews for Shitler. What the hell is up with that?
Happy Hoosier
(9,706 posts)Smug, arrogant, and quite often pathetically uninformed
awesomerwb1
(5,173 posts)Why do you watch this guy??
sheshe2
(98,983 posts)I just saw the article and his nasty comments. Reading an article about the asshole and pointing out his 'assholiness' does not have anything to do with his ratings.
dem4decades
(14,632 posts)LymphocyteLover
(10,367 posts)Happy Hoosier
(9,706 posts)There is nothing left about Bill Maher.
dem4decades
(14,632 posts)LymphocyteLover
(10,367 posts)But it seems like the pandemic messed him up and bought into a lot rightwing BS about Dems suppressing free speech and so forth
dem4decades
(14,632 posts)Why he gets it here is ridiculous, he should be ignored.
Let's start threads about Jonathan Turley while we're at it.
LymphocyteLover
(10,367 posts)marble falls
(73,401 posts)brer cat
(27,755 posts)sheshe2
(98,983 posts)hookaleft
(1,200 posts)Why do people continue to post his show on DU. He is clearly an enemy
Xavier Breath
(6,718 posts)RandySF
(87,685 posts)Attilatheblond
(9,452 posts)They sort of set up their critiques like it was tax payer $ as that will feed the maga nut balls' rage.
underpants
(197,736 posts)The Obama Presidential Center and Library, which opened in Chicago in June 2026, was financed by an estimated $850 million raised privately through the Obama Foundation. While building costs were covered by private donors, public tax dollars have funded surrounding infrastructure updates and road reconfigurations.Key funding and financial details include
Public Infrastructure: State and local taxpayers contributed over $200 million for surrounding infrastructure upgrades, road redesigns, and utility relocations.Endowment &
Maintenance: The Obama Foundation previously discussed a $470 million endowment goal to sustain future operations, which has faced scrutiny as only $1 million has been deposited into the fund so far.
Official Archives: The physical and digital records of his administration are managed by the Barack Obama Presidential Library, an entity of the National Archives and Records Administration
Meet the megadonors who funded the Obama Foundation
https://chicago.suntimes.com/museums-zoos/2026/06/17/meet-the-mega-donors-who-funded-the-obama-foundation
0rganism
(25,759 posts)2na fisherman
(390 posts)I wonder what kind of tax shelter Maher has set up for his huge salary for being a media know-it-all?
Establishing a library is not a big deal because all modern presidents seem to have a good amount of wealth. And many of them have established such libraries and foundations to channel much of their money into projects and things they support rather than have them frittered away via taxes paying for questionable things supported by that otherwise taxed income. It is a smart business and social responsibility move.
QueerDuck
(2,085 posts)sheshe2
(98,983 posts)MIButterfly
(3,432 posts)When oh when will this idiot shut his stupid pie hole once and for all. Obama's Presidential Library's cost is a drop in the bucket compared to the billions of OUR money that DJT has pissed away and enriched himself during both of his terms. Why not talk about THAT, Billy Boy?
Among other things, President Obama's center is historic and educational. It's not a vanity project like everything DJT slaps his name on. People will come from all over the country to visit the center. Teachers will be bringing students there on field trips until the end of all time. Hopefully all the things with DJT's name on it will be torn down by the end of this decade.
Stop showing your ignorant ass, Bill Maher. Nobody wants to see it.
Tree Lady
(13,425 posts)For Iran going to war, and buying peace after creating war.
About golf, ballroom, reflecting pool, put name on everything, fight at white house, fixing lawn after, creating tariffs bring up prices, playing with the stock market illegally, etc etc etc
Also they had cost overruns for Obamas library which was supposed to be fully paid by donors. Unlike Trumps crap which our tax dollars are paying for.
mahina
(20,819 posts)I did, and Iʻm glad.
Hey Bill, what about the 50% increase in our already vastly inflated and bloated military budget up to 1.5 TRILLION dollars? Concerned? No?
"What about..."
GFY Bill. And take that sheepʻs clothing off while at it.
sheshe2
(98,983 posts)Cha
(321,479 posts)little mouthpiece.
I appreciate Ro Kanna's replies.. This one from your link..
Fucking Maher: What does that have to do with the building?
sheshe2
(98,983 posts)Mahalo, Cha.
Cha
(321,479 posts)Donations.
So why is Maher whining about President Obama's library like a little whiny assholes?:
Making a Fool of himself on national TV?
sheshe2
(98,983 posts)Cha
(321,479 posts)This is just the latest in a long, long line of carrying water for the fascist regime.
Thanks for bringing it to our attention. The evidence is piling up
nobody messes with our Pres Obama on this board
hookaleft
(1,200 posts)and all the posts about him need to be alerted on
sheshe2
(98,983 posts)hookaleft
(1,200 posts)but he needs to be banned
Orrex
(67,521 posts)But his persistent fanbase here @ DU has baffled me for years.
SocialDemocrat61
(8,275 posts)
Orrex
(67,521 posts)But still his fans cheer him on as if he were insightful or wise.
And they tend to want it both ways: when his writers hand him a zinger, his fans praise him for speaking truth to power, like he's some unique dispenser of wisdom. But the other 99% of the time, when he says something fuckheaded, they say "he's just a comedian, so you can't hold him to academic standards."
I don't know that he should be banned from DU, per se, but he's not fundamentally different from other reichwing propaganda outlets that aren't allowed here.
SocialDemocrat61
(8,275 posts)Promotion of a FAUX News show would never be allowed here.
OneBlueDotS-Carolina
(1,494 posts)I'm very sure the money spent on your show....
RockRaven
(20,028 posts)niyad
(135,216 posts)goes there anymore. It's too crowded."
Grim Chieftain
(2,284 posts)He is right there with CBS and Faux News in our house - toilet TV.
lapucelle
(21,222 posts)...I guess that's his idea of a library.
sheshe2
(98,983 posts)Keepthesoulalive
(2,456 posts)Is that he like Joe Rogan is showing you who they really are and we should respond appropriately.
mwmisses4289
(5,092 posts)AllaN01Bear
(30,066 posts)does lurch groam
maxrandb
(17,543 posts)[JUDAS]
Woman, your fine ointment, brand new and expensive
Could have been saved for the poor
Why has it been wasted? We could have raised maybe
Three hundred silver pieces or more
People who are hungry, people who are starving
Matter more than your feet and hair
Orangenero
(39 posts)Probably nice on the inside, but not worth a billion...
Celerity
(55,275 posts)








mountain grammy
(29,341 posts)Personally I think its magnificent
travelingthrulife
(5,726 posts)Midwestern Democrat
(1,053 posts)politics that's been happening for the last 20 years - I don't think it's been good for the country and I don't think giving campaign strategists/consultants unlimited budgets has led to better campaigns (probably the opposite since they no longer have to be disciplined and discerning about how they spend money and no longer have to make an effort to get free earned media) - but right now I don't see any chance of putting that genie back in the bottle.
Torchlight
(7,189 posts)Good luck
orleans
(37,418 posts)Marcuse
(9,140 posts)Last edited Sat Jun 20, 2026, 10:20 PM - Edit history (1)
https://ejunkieblog.com/2025/04/29/the-seven-deadly-talk-show-sins-of-bill-maher/In a rare moment of a talk show guest actually standing up to a talk show host and calling them out on their B.S., Ben Affleck once actually called Maher out on the air for his hatred of Muslims as well as his various insensitive remarks about Islam. This is actually a part of a pattern I noticed with Maher where he will often make fun of anyone and everyone who is different from him in any way, whether its religious people or even people who are a different race, gender, class or age than him. And he has done it so freely that it has made him a lot of enemies. These days his main targets seem to be anyone who is young, woke and has pronouns in their bios. A group of people who he regularly calls stupid (I maintain that Gen Z is by far the most misunderstood and underestimated generation). Other examples of Mahers tone deaf remarks include comparing the Me Too movement to McCarthyism, comparing woke culture to Chairman Mao fascism, regularly ridiculing Palestine sympathizers for being terrorist sympathizers, and constantly badmouthing Democrats for being too radical even as Republicans become cruel maniacs and spineless Trump sycophants. Bill Maher often thinks anyone who disagrees with him is an idiot, but he might want to put some wooden boards over the glass house hes living in.
2. He downplays the pandemic
3. He normalizes dangerous people
4. He is selective with his outrage
5. He is a phony
6. He is predictable
7. He is egotistical
Cha
(321,479 posts)Martin Eden
(16,022 posts)I finally had enough of Maher several years ago when Steve Bannon was his first guest. Bill had what he thought were "gotcha" questions for Bannon, who spun false narratives so fast you could almost see Bill's head spinning. Unable to contend with all that, Bill just said "OK" and asked his next question -- only to get his ass handed to him by an evil POS clearly much smarter and better prepared.
Maher provides a platform for those assholes, under the guise of free speech and not being afraid to let the other side have their say -- but there's a difference between honest debate and letting lies go unchallenged because you're simply not up to the task.
Bill Maher is a smug prick with a greatly over-inflated opinion of his own wit and wisdom. He is not on the side of truth, decency, and higher values. One of his regular guests, apparently a personal friend, is Ann Coulter. He had her on several times during the Obama presidency, when she was getting rich selling books that advanced the most hateful false narratives.
How can Bill Maher be friends with such a vile creature?
He is not what he purports to be.
fujiyamasan
(2,150 posts)This was before he took his more recent rightward turn. Maher had some annoying right wing idiot on and he couldnt counter anything the guy said. Maher especially gets flustered with numbers.
Hes a smug egotistical ass hole, and hes not as smart as he thinks he is.
Wiz Imp
(10,753 posts)It's not the Obama Library, it's the Obama Presidential Center. His Presidential Library is just a small part of the Center. The cost of the library is just a small fraction of the total cost. And besides it being paid for with private donations, it will almost certainly bring significant economic development to the south side of Chicago so it will ultimately help the economy. The "high" cost for this project was definitely worth it and the City of Chicago is significantly better off now because of it.
Cha
(321,479 posts)spudspud
(677 posts)Zafira Cherry
(10 posts)the 400M retrofit, the US tax payers paid for that. This airplane "goes with Trump" when he leaves. You know damn well there will be no Trump Library.
Hey Bill "Couldn't that money be better spent on something else"
Mr. Jinx
(1,401 posts)Bill Maher takes an interest in a presidential library only when Barack Obama's name is on it. Once again, Black people- especially when they're successful- aren't allowed to simply exist in the eyes of some people without there being a problem.
People like him really tire me out. I'll applaud when his show is finally canceled.
nwduke
(532 posts)For a dope who sucked up to trump! Theres so much there for all the people but Mayer is too stupid to understand that!
themaguffin
(5,515 posts)Jbraybarten
(300 posts)struggle4progress
(127,113 posts)$241 billion instead of $240 billion! Or we could pay Iran $301 billion instead of $300 billion!"
ShazzieB
(23,058 posts)He acts like he never heard of a presidential library before. Like Obama just pulled the whole idea out of his ass or something. Is he really not aware that every president since FDR has established a presidential library to preserve his papers as part of the nation's history? Does he think Obama should be the first president in almost 90 years to just skip the whole thing? Really?
Roosevelt's decision stemmed from a firm belief that Presidential papers are an important part of the national heritage and should be accessible to the public. He asked the National Archives to take custody of his papers and other historical materials and to administer his library.
Many pre-Herbert Hoover collections of presidential papers now reside in the Library of Congress, while others are split among universities, libraries, historical societies, and private collections. Many materials have been lost or destroyed.
In 1950, Harry S. Truman decided that he, too, would build a presidential library to house his Presidential papers. In 1955, Congress passed the Presidential Libraries Act, establishing a system of federal presidential archival depositories across the United States. The Act encouraged other Presidents to donate their historical materials to the government and ensured the preservation of any donated Presidential papers and their availability to the American people. Under this and subsequent acts, more presidential archival depositories have been established, continuing the presidential libraries system.
https://www.archives.gov/presidential-libraries/about/history
Either Maher is really stupid or he just decided to deliberately be a jackass to provoke a reaction, and I don't know which is worse. Either way, he needs to educate himself AND stop acting like a bratty kid saying saying shit just to piss people off. Oh, wait, acting like a bratty kid saying saying shit just to piss people off is pretty much his brand, isn't it? How pathetic is it that a 70 year old man still thinks acting like a 12 year old smartass is funny and cool?
PS. Mr. B and I are FOR SURE going to visit the Barack Obama Presidential Center as soon as we can, and we are looking forward to it! Grow the fuck up already, Maher.
sheshe2
(98,983 posts)So, yes...
Does he think Obama should be the first president in almost 90 years to just skip the whole thing? Really?
...because he is black.
Good for you and Mr. B on your plans to visit!
Cha
(321,479 posts)Informative.
☮️💙🌻🕯️🕊️
SocialDemocrat61
(8,275 posts)Last edited Sun Jun 21, 2026, 09:55 AM - Edit history (1)

kimbutgar
(27,694 posts)My husband and I are planning to go to it next year for our wedding anniversary vacation.
Bill, retire you are such a has been!
sheshe2
(98,983 posts)Good for you both!
GenThePerservering
(4,037 posts)he's getting what he wants - air time.
LudwigPastorius
(15,228 posts)Bibi's bloodlust is screwing Trump's concept of a memorandum of a plan to end the Iran clusterfuck. The Big Orange Anus will lean on Netanyahu by threatening to pull, or actually pulling, arms and cash support.
Will Bill-o still think his candlelight dinner with Trump was dreamy?
JustAnotherGen
(38,183 posts)Seriously. He's anti Black. He should keep his filthy mouth shut.
Now he should do the Trump library - but he won't. Sounds about . . .
mercuryblues
(16,557 posts)Tell me what you do with your 10 million a year income?
City Lights
(26,171 posts)JHB
(38,388 posts)SocialDemocrat61
(8,275 posts)Maher minions ever show up to defend him. Of course, they show up every Friday to promote his show and then on Saturday to say how great it was. This week he attacked Obama, Mayor Mamdani, Kamala Harris and Democrats in general. My guess is that they support those attacks.
True Dough
(27,624 posts)Many of us disagree with his stance on various topics. That doesn't mean some of the content isn't stimulating. His guests, a good number of them staunch Dems/progressives make excellent counterpoints.
Nobody forces anyone to watch/listen. You don't like it, fine. Stay away.
But to argue that those who tune in must agree with everything or must advocate for every opinion he holds is sheer poppycock.
BannonsLiver
(21,002 posts)Like what would it take to break the devotion? Wound he have to burn a cross on his show? Wheres the red line? Is there a red line?
SocialDemocrat61
(8,275 posts)There are many who watch to see a particular guest but will criticize Maher afterwards.
But there are those who go out of their way to promote his show here every Friday and then come back on Saturday to praise the show without a word of criticism for Maher when he attacks democrats.
This is what he said on Friday

Do they support what they support what he said or not? Their silence is complicity.
BannonsLiver
(21,002 posts)SocialDemocrat61
(8,275 posts)Dont know how any democrat could agree with this

milestogo
(23,323 posts)His opinion isn't worth shit.
C_U_L8R
(49,617 posts)Dust to dust, MFer.
FullySupportDems
(518 posts)Like, Hey democrats, if you'd stop being so mean and rude maybe the GOP wouldn't be so.. nuts? As if what they do has ANYTHING to do with what Democrats do. Blaming the victims. Telling the battered wife to stop pissing off her husband. Friggin Maher. He acts like a plant. Ridiculing Obama's library why?
Hey Bill? When was the last time you punched up? Coward.
HappyH
(279 posts)It would be great to be in a space where Bill Maher wont be.
Initech
(109,558 posts)And couldnt the $14 million that Trump gave to his convicted felon donor to paint the reflecting pool be used for something else?
Fuck you Bill.
Norrrm
(6,027 posts)Is it Pillow Guy?
Gold companies that steer you to overpriced gold coins?
Redleg
(7,054 posts)"Couldn't this money be spent on something more worthy?" is a paraphrase of his point. Maher holds the Dems to a much higher stander than he holds those on the right and is also adapt at the "both sides" game. I think Ro Khanna did a good job.
LetMyPeopleVote
(183,685 posts)Maher ceased being funny a long time ago. Why would anyone care about what this asshole/idiot thinks
B.See
(9,053 posts)FUCK Maher? (asking for a friend)