Bill Maher Warns of Rise of Autocracy After Comey Indictment

Bill Maher used the September 26 edition of Real Time With Bill Maher to sound an alarm about the trajectory of U.S. politics, linking the indictment of a former top federal official to concerns that the nation could be sliding toward autocracy. In the program’s signature blend of humor and sober commentary, the HBO host framed the moment as part of a broader shift in how political conflicts are policed in the Trump era, arguing that the political environment is growing more adversarial and punitive.

Comey was indicted on September 25 by a federal grand jury in Virginia on charges of obstruction of justice and making a false statement tied to his 2020 Senate Judiciary Committee testimony about the FBI’s Russia investigation. The case is notable for being the first time a senior government official has faced federal charges in the ongoing inquiry into possible ties between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia.

During the segment, Maher offered his observations on the people surrounding the indictment, including Trump’s allies who are guiding the legal strategy. He referenced Lindsey Halligan, one of the former president’s personal lawyers overseeing the matter, and described her in blunt terms as an insurance lawyer who is 36 years old. Maher suggested the personal-tie dynamic of the case underscores the drama and stakes of the moment, delivering a string of punchlines that kept the crowd on edge while inviting viewers to reflect on the broader implications.

Even as he riffed, Maher kept the focus on what he said was a widening pattern: the shift from muzzling dissidents to prosecuting political enemies. He warned that the Trump era could intensify such tactics, a trajectory he said would be dangerous for democratic norms. He suggested, in effect, that the political conflict might increasingly be fought in courtrooms rather than in public policy debates, a development he described as foreboding and potentially transformative for the country’s institutions.

Maher’s remarks occurred against a backdrop of volatile late-night politics. The episode’s timing followed a broader week in which other talk shows grappled with sensitive subjects and a separate incident involving ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Kimmel’s show was temporarily suspended after controversial remarks about Charlie Kirk’s death, before returning to air on September 23 and delivering record-breaking ratings after a six-day absence.

Real Time With Bill Maher remains a fixture on Friday nights for viewers who tune in for Maher’s blend of commentary and satire. The show airs at 10 p.m. Eastern on HBO.