Where There's Woke WTW105: A 2019 DSA Convention Was a Little Weird and Now Bill Maher Can't Possibly Support Mamdani
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Dec 16, 2025 The hosts dive into Bill Maher's critique of socialism, exposing his exaggerated examples and misleading claims. They dissect Maher's portrayal of the Democratic Socialists and clarify the differences between welfare and true socialist policies. A discussion on city-run grocery stores highlights practical solutions to food insecurity, countering fears with successful precedents. They also address immigration policies, revealing nuances often overlooked in mainstream discussions. Ultimately, the episode dismantles Maher's narrow views, defending Mamdani's platform with robust arguments.
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Maher Conflates Programs Into A Straw Man
- Bill Maher's critique of 'too much socialism' conflates many unrelated government programs into a straw man.
- Thomas Smith and Lydia point out this mischaracterization hides that many programs are under threat, not overabundant.
Bailouts Are Socialism For Corporations
- Hosts highlight hypocrisy when Maher lists corporate bailouts as 'socialism' while ignoring who benefits.
- They call out that these bailouts serve corporations, not the public, undermining his argument against democratic socialism.
Perception, Not Policy, Drives Open-Border Claims
- The hosts correct Maher's claim that Biden had an 'open border' policy by citing deportations and strengthened enforcement.
- They argue perception and misinformation, not policy, drive the narrative about immigration.