Bill Maher Urges Democrats to Reevaluate Strategy for Future Wins

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Comedian and talk show host Bill Maher offered pointed advice to the Democratic Party on Friday, outlining what he believes is the "most important" step they must take to reclaim electoral success following their 2024 defeat.  

 

Maher, like some moderate Democrats, has attributed the party’s losses to what he calls excessive “woke” rhetoric and actions. The 2024 elections resulted in sweeping losses for Democrats, costing them the presidency and the Senate while failing to regain control of the House. In response, the party has been grappling with internal debates over messaging, base outreach, and the best path forward.  

 

On his HBO show *Real Time with Bill Maher*, in a segment titled *New Rule: Guilt by Civilization*, Maher emphasized what he sees as a major problem for Democrats. “Memo to Democrats: if you ever want to win an election again, the absolute most important first step is stop doing this,” he said before showing a clip from the Academy Awards. The clip featured actor and dancer Julianne Hough’s opening remarks acknowledging the Native American tribes historically linked to the land where Hollywood is now situated.  

 

“We gather in celebration of the Oscars on the ancestral lands of the Tongva, Tataviam, and Chumash peoples, the traditional caretakers of this water and land,” Hough stated.  

 

While land acknowledgments are intended as a respectful recognition of Indigenous history, Maher dismissed them as performative. “I don’t know if we’re still saying ‘cringe,’ but if we are, that’s this,” he quipped. He went further, criticizing Hollywood for engaging in such gestures while enjoying the privileges of wealth and success. “I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again—either give the land back or shut the f*** up! I understand the desire to right the wrongs of the past, especially when you get to take the moral high ground and then build an 8,000-square-foot mansion on it,” he said.  

 

Maher also pushed back against what he called the “simplistic idea of guilt by civilization,” challenging the notion that Indigenous societies were inherently superior to modern ones. “Can we please get over this idea that ancient people weren’t just as full of s***—in fact, more full of s***—than humans today?” he said. While acknowledging the brutality of history, he argued that civilization has, on the whole, led to progress. “The march of civilization has been bloody and painful, but we generally got to a better place, not a worse one—not just technologically, but in how we treat each other.”  

 

Although Maher did not explicitly link Democrats to the Academy Awards land acknowledgment, his remarks echoed a broader debate within the party. Moderate Democrats have increasingly pointed to “woke” politics as a liability in elections. A November 2024 YouGov poll found that 57 percent of Americans believed political correctness influenced the election outcome, highlighting ongoing cultural divisions.  

 

Maher’s comments also come at a time when Native American voters are gaining recognition as a crucial voting bloc, particularly in swing states such as Arizona, Nevada, and Michigan. In Arizona, Native American turnout was instrumental in securing Democratic victories in both the 2020 presidential election and the 2022 midterms. Their influence in these key battlegrounds underscores the importance of addressing Indigenous concerns beyond symbolic gestures.  

 

Meanwhile, many Democratic voters have grown frustrated with the party’s response to the 2024 defeat. This frustration was evident in the online backlash to a February video showing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer leading chants of “We will win!”—despite the party’s significant losses. Critics questioned why Democrats had not conducted a thorough analysis of their failures.  

 

Political strategists have emphasized the need for action rather than rhetoric. Democratic strategist Doug Gordon stated, “In this moment, the actions Democrats take will speak much louder than the actual words they use. The status quo of sternly worded letters and Capitol Hill press conferences is not going to cut it. You can't bring a knife to a gunfight.”  

 

David B. Cohen, a political science professor at the University of Akron, echoed this sentiment. “The Democratic Party seems to be waking up from the slumber it has been in since the 2024 election,” he told *Newsweek*. “Americans who did not vote for Donald Trump or Elon Musk or support their dismantling of the federal government have grown increasingly frustrated and panicked over the lackluster effort to oppose him. They want Democrats to do something—anything—to oppose the Trump agenda.”  

 

Native American political influence remains a critical factor in upcoming elections. Gabriel R. Sanchez, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, noted that Native Americans tend to vote for Democratic candidates and are one of the youngest and least partisan voting demographics, often prioritizing issues like land rights, environmental protections, and economic opportunities. Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan reinforced this point, stating, “I think Native people are strategically located in swing states across the country, and our vote, the Native vote, can make or break a campaign or election. So, in many ways, ignore us at your peril.”  

 

Looking ahead, the 2026 midterms will serve as a referendum on Republican leadership while testing the Democratic Party’s ability to adapt and reconnect with voters. Whether Maher’s advice resonates with party leaders remains to be seen, but the debate over messaging and strategy is unlikely to fade anytime soon.

 

Based on a report by Newsweek  2025-03-11