Liberal television host Bill Maher sparked major controversy this week after saying that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) could actually make a strong future presidential candidate — but only if she goes through what he bluntly called “deprogramming.”
Maher made the eye-raising comment on his Club Random podcast while debating politics with comedian Patton Oswalt. The conversation quickly shifted from a resurfaced college video of AOC dancing on a rooftop to the much bigger question: Is America really ready for a far-left president?
Oswalt claimed Republicans once looked out of touch for criticizing the old video, insisting AOC appeared “happy” and “cool.”
But Maher wasn’t interested in nostalgia.
Instead, he warned that AOC’s radical ideology is her real problem — not a college clip.
Maher: AOC Is Too Far Left for Real America
Maher said that despite her popularity online, Ocasio-Cortez simply does not connect with the majority of Americans, especially voters dealing with skyrocketing costs, border chaos, and public safety concerns.
“Yeah, and if she had some deprogramming, she could be such a fantastic candidate,” Maher said, suggesting she lives inside a political bubble dominated by activists and out-of-touch elites.
Oswalt immediately pushed back, but Maher doubled down. He even pointed out that The New York Times — a paper he says has been fighting him for years — finally admitted Democrats have gone too extreme.
Maher argued that the only path for Democrats to win nationally is to return to a moderate, common-sense agenda that matches the priorities of working Americans.
Oswalt Claims America Is “Broken” — Maher Says Democrats Are
Oswalt tried to shift blame, saying that if people think AOC is too far left, then the country itself must be broken.
Maher completely rejected the idea.
He listed issue after issue where he said Democrats have completely lost touch with everyday Americans:
- Gender ideology
- Race obsession
- Public schools
- Homelessness
- Crime
- The open border
- Radical education policies
Maher argued these positions may be trendy on social media, but they are wildly out of step with the rest of the nation.
Maher Also Slams AOC’s Socialist Allies
Maher’s warning wasn’t limited to AOC.
On Friday, he blasted New York socialist lawmaker Zohran Mamdani, saying his policies would become the focus of “every attack ad for the next two years.”
He repeated the same message on CNN, asking why neither party can offer normal, level-headed leadership anymore — instead of extreme rhetoric and fringe ideas.
A Stunning “Endorsement” With a Major Warning
Maher’s comments reveal a growing truth inside the Democratic Party: even some of their own liberal voices now admit the progressive movement has gone completely off the rails.
AOC may get “endorsements” from Hollywood liberals, but Maher’s message was unmistakable:
If Democrats want to win again, they need fewer socialists — and more sanity.