Bill Maher labels NPR far-left in Newsmakers interview

Comedian and HBO host Bill Maher directly criticized National Public Radio as a bastion of left-wing extremism during an interview on the network's own "Newsmakers" podcast on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Speaking to NPR host Steve Inskeep, Maher expressed surprise at being invited, stating he views the outlet as fundamentally changed and positioned on the far extreme of the political left.

The exchange occurred as the two discussed a range of topics, including Maher's recent acceptance of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center and his controversial decision to have dinner with former President Donald Trump. When Inskeep suggested that NPR's audience was more diverse than Maher might think, the comedian responded with skepticism. He said he was surprised to have been invited because he perceives NPR as so different from its past identity.

Maher elaborated on his criticism by lamenting a broader cultural refusal to engage with opposing arguments. He challenged Inskeep and the audience to tell him if he was wrong about something, asserting that such engagement is rare from either political extreme today. Inskeep defended NPR's editorial approach, stating the...