Bill Maher: Democrats ‘still’ haven’t dealt with their far left

HBO host Bill Maher said Friday night that Democrats “still, really, are not renouncing their far left,” telling Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on “Real Time” that the party’s reluctance to confront its left flank is a political liability.

Mr. Maher said the positions of the Democratic Socialists of America are Communist. Mr. Beshear said the only elected official taking government ownership stakes in the means of production is President Donald Trump, a claim Mr. Maher agreed with.

Mr. Maher said he would like to hear someone tell the far left that it is not the Democratic Party and should take its ideas elsewhere and form its own party.

Mr. Beshear, a Democrat, said socialism has failed as an experiment and is not a bold new idea. He added that he can work with anyone who wants to solve a problem, and that he approaches issues such as hunger and health care from a very different place than DSA candidates, even though both want people to be able to see a doctor when they are sick. He drew a line between problem solvers and problem causers, then criticized the Big, Beautiful Bill. Mr. Maher and Mr. Beshear also praised San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie.

Mr. Beshear made similar remarks in August on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” calling socialism a “failed experiment” after being asked about a CBS News/YouGov poll showing that 58% of Democrats viewed socialism positively, compared with 32% of Democrats who viewed capitalism positively. The survey of 2,287 U.S. adults was conducted Aug. 12-14.

Mr. Maher has pressed the theme for months ahead of the November midterms. In a late-July monologue, he said his vote was in play if the party keeps moving in the DSA’s direction.

Mr. Beshear joined the show’s panel alongside Steve Hilton, the Republican candidate for California governor.