Marc Maron, the sharp-tongued comedian and host of the influential "WTF" podcast, has never been one to hold back his opinions. But his latest critique, delivered on the August 24, 2025 episode of "Pod Save America," has reignited a simmering debate within the comedy world—this time with fellow stand-up and HBO host Bill Maher squarely in his crosshairs.
"I always had a problem with his tone," Maron, now 61, told listeners, referring to Maher, who is 69. "I feel with Bill that there is this—and it happens with some of the other boomers—desperate chasing of relevance that changes someone's mind, in terms of how they approach what they do, and also makes the whole undertaking feel desperate." According to USA Today, Maron’s words were pointed and left little doubt about his feelings toward Maher’s recent direction.
This wasn’t the first time Maron had taken aim at Maher. Over the past year, the two comedians, both fixtures in the American political and cultural commentary landscape, have increasingly found themselves on opposite sides of debates about comedy, politics, and the responsibilities of public figures. Maron, who has appeared on Maher's "Real Time" three times in the past, has made it clear that he no longer sees eye to eye with the HBO host.
Maher, for his part, has built a reputation on his willingness to challenge political orthodoxy, especially what he calls "wokeness" on the left. On both "Real Time" and his podcast "Club Random," Maher has argued that the movement, which he says began as a positive alertness to injustice, has morphed into an "eyeroll" for its perceived intolerance of ideological diversity. In a 2023 interview with CNN, Maher said, "Woke, which started out as a good thing: alert to injustice. Who could be against that? But it became sort of an eyeroll because they love diversity, except of ideas, and that's not really where we should be."
Maron is unmoved by such arguments. On "Pod Save America," he doubled down, saying, "He’s got good joke writers who know how to write for his tone, but I can’t see past the desperation and what he’s willing to do to stay in the conversation." As reported by Variety, Maron’s critique cuts to the heart of a generational and philosophical divide in American comedy: whether entertainers should adapt to changing times or risk becoming, in Maron's words, "desperate" in their efforts to remain relevant.
The dispute goes beyond personal style. Earlier this year, Maron called out Maher on his own "WTF" podcast for agreeing with "some of the things that Trump is doing" during the former president’s second administration. "Are you going to be like Bill Maher, you know, 'I'm going to agree with some of the things that Trump is doing.' It’s like, dude, you’re a bitch," Maron said, as quoted by Variety. Maron’s criticism extended to other comedians and podcasters who, in his view, have normalized extremist views by engaging with controversial figures. "All it does is humanize and normalize fascism," he wrote in a blog post after Donald Trump’s appearance on Joe Rogan’s Spotify podcast.
Maher’s own relationship with Trump has been complicated. In early 2025, Maher dined with Trump at the White House—a meeting that drew immediate backlash. On his HBO show, Maher told viewers he was surprised to find Trump "much more likable in person." He added, "Everything I've ever not liked about him was, I swear to God, absent, at least on this night with this guy. A crazy person doesn't live in the White House. A person who plays a crazy person on TV a lot lives there." The comments, reported by USA Today, sparked a satirical response from "Curb Your Enthusiasm" creator Larry David, who penned a New York Times essay mocking Maher's remarks by comparing them to a hypothetical dinner with Adolf Hitler. Maher, in turn, fired back on "Piers Morgan Uncensored," calling David's essay "kind of insulting to 6 million dead Jews."
Maron’s criticisms aren’t just about Maher’s politics—they’re about the broader impact of comedy on society. On "Pod Save America," Maron argued that anti-woke comedy isn't just about language or jokes, but has real-world consequences. "Real rights are denied and real lives are at stake because of, you know, what comics thought was an anti-woke gist was just about their language issue. And now they were used under the auspices of anti-woke," Maron said, as quoted by the Washington Examiner. "You destroy all the policy that help people who are vulnerable or marginalized or in trouble. I can't separate that. I will remain committed to the fact that they did that—comics helped that."
The debate also touches on the business side of comedy and entertainment. Maron took aim at Netflix for continuing to work with Dave Chappelle despite the comedian’s history of anti-trans jokes, calling it a "pivotal moment" and a demonstration of how "fascism works in business." According to The Daily Beast, Maron said, "When they had pushback from the trans community about Chappelle, they realized after several days that that community was not going to affect their bottom line at all. And they cut 'em loose. That is how fascism works in business." He argued that Netflix’s support for LGBTQ+ content is ultimately tokenistic: "But ultimately, who's getting the big deals? Which shows stay on the air? You know, what do they keep repeating? That's them saying, 'We got this other stuff and we know there's a few of you, but we're throwing you a bone. So, shut up.'"
For Maher, the controversy is unlikely to subside soon. HBO renewed "Real Time with Bill Maher" for two more seasons last year, ensuring the show will run through 2026, as reported by the Washington Examiner. Maher’s blend of political commentary and stand-up continues to draw both loyal viewers and passionate critics, and his willingness to challenge both the left and right keeps him in the center of the cultural conversation.
Meanwhile, Maron is preparing to step away from the podcasting world. In June, he announced that "WTF," which he launched in 2009, will end this fall due to burnout. "We're tired," he said. "We're burnt out. And we are utterly satisfied with the work we've done," as reported by USA Today. Maron’s decision marks the end of an era for a show that has helped define the podcast medium and given voice to countless comedians, actors, and thinkers over the past sixteen years.
As the debate over comedy, politics, and cultural relevance rages on, Maron and Maher remain emblematic of the challenges and contradictions facing public figures in the age of social media and rapid political change. Their ongoing clash is more than just a feud—it’s a window into the soul-searching happening across the entertainment industry, as artists and audiences alike grapple with what it means to be both funny and responsible in turbulent times.
