Bill Maher Criticizes California Government for Inadequate Reaction to Los Angeles Fires on his show ‘Real Time’

Bill Maher discussed the recent Los Angeles wildfires in his “New Rules” segment on Friday’s Real Time. He seemed to echo criticisms often heard from some conservative viewpoints regarding the response to the wildfires, which blamed it on what they perceive as mismanagement and priorities of liberal authorities.

In his monologue, Maher pointed out what he characterized as mismanagement by the government, expressing his frustration with California being dominated by one political party. He called out local fire departments for what he viewed as focusing more on diversity initiatives rather than firefighting efforts, commenting that similar remarks from a Southern sheriff would be considered racist.

Addressing the response to the wildfires, Maher noted, “Many Democrats in this single-party state immediately went to, ‘Don’t blame politicians. You can’t control the wind.’ Well, that’s only partially true. The wind part,” Maher quipped. While he acknowledged the role of climate change in worsening fire conditions, he highlighted that this is a larger issue that cannot be easily managed. “What can we really do? Pass a law to ensure the Chinese stop burning coal?”

Maher also noted, “Yes, it’s undeniably true that LA is built in a stupid place to build a city. But when it’s not on fire, it’s really quite lovely, and it’s my home. And stupid as its origin may be, it’s not going anywhere.” He referenced a report from Axios about complications with water access in Pacific Palisades, sarcastically remarking, “That’s why I pay 13% of my income in state taxes — to people who I assumed were working on things like this.”

Turning his focus to California’s leadership, Maher criticized Governor Gavin Newsom’s response to the fires and Mayor Karen Bass for traveling to Ghana just before the disaster. He also addressed debates over recent 2% budget cuts to the Los Angeles Fire Department, which Fire Chief Kristin Crowley cited as a challenge during the firefighting efforts. While Maher agreed with Crowley’s assessment, he did not mention that these cuts were temporary and that the department eventually received increased funding.

Maher’s critique extended to broader issues of California’s spending priorities. “California is the place that spends money and gets nothing,” he said, adding, “We have the highest marginal tax rate in America… What is included for that? Breadsticks? Because it clearly doesn’t cover fire.”

He further expressed skepticism about diversity-focused hiring within essential services. Referring to Chief Crowley, he said, “Am I against a lesbian being chief? Of course not. Do I think a lesbian can do the job? Of course I do, and maybe she’s the best person for the job. Or maybe they really wanted a lesbian in that job, and she’s just the best lesbian for the job, and with essential services, that’s not good enough.”

Maher quoted Crowley’s official bio, which highlights her commitment to diversity and inclusion, sarcastically adding, “Well, you didn’t exceed my expectations, which was that the whole city wouldn’t burn down.”

He also criticized LAFD Deputy Chief Kristine Larson, who advocates for diversity and inclusion, citing an undated video where Larson stated, “You want to see somebody that responds to your house, your emergency… that looks like you.” Maher argued that such sentiments could be perceived as discriminatory. “No one cares what someone looks like when they’re pulling you out of a burning house,” he said.

Maher ended by linking governmental inefficiencies and identity politics to larger systemic issues, while acknowledging that “wokeness” alone wasn’t the cause of the fires. “Cali has no shortage of safety commissions and agencies and bureaucrats and regulators and of course, sign language interpreters who communicate with their fists,” he quipped, accompanied by a montage of interpreters.

“But common sense? We better get some of that back soon, because wildfires in California are like boob jobs in a strip club: inevitable, and they’re only going to get bigger,” he concluded.

You can watch the full segment above.