'Real Time' Crowd Stunned as Bill Maher Gives His Unexpected Take on Iran

Bill Maher, historically anti-war, expressed support for the ongoing military action against Iran, stating he doesn't 'hate it' unless boots are on the ground. He justified this by citing Iran's role in Middle Eastern instability and the positive reactions of many Iranian-Americans. This stance surprised his audience, who are typically more left-leaning.

Maher's clip: 'Have you expected me to say I hate it? I don't. Sorry. When he puts boots on the ground, yeah, then I'll hate it. Now I know too many happy Iranian-Americans.' Rubin notes Maher's past anti-war positions and the audience's initial reaction.

Rubin argues that Democrats are intellectually dishonest by claiming the Trump administration lacks a plan for the Iran war, despite briefings from officials like Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth. He contrasts this with their past support for military actions under Democratic presidents (Obama in Libya, Clinton in Yugoslavia) without similar demands for congressional authorization or detailed plans.

Rubin: 'All the Dems keep saying over and over again is that we don't have a plan. Intellectual dishonesty pisses me off the most.' He cites Maher's 'receipts' on Adam Schiff's past stance on presidential authority for military force.

Palantir CEO Alex Karp defines 'progressive' as policies that genuinely improve the working class's future. He argues that the modern progressive movement is 'not progressive' because its policies, such as open borders, lead to wage reduction and eviscerate legal protections. He also links progressive policies to increased crime and drug issues, disproportionately affecting poor people of color.

Karp: 'The modern progressive movement is clearly not progressive. Progressive is defined by the working class do better tomorrow than they did today and know it.' He mentions 'closing the border so that you don't reduce the amount that you pay people' and 'so little competence or willing to use force that we get overrun by drugs.'

The Trump administration's policy towards Iran is framed as seeking 'unconditional surrender,' meaning the US will dictate terms based on overwhelming military capabilities, not a negotiated peace. This approach aims to render Iran 'combat ineffective' rather than engaging in traditional surrender ceremonies.

Pete Hegseth: 'It means we're fighting to win. It means we set the terms. We'll know when they're not capable of fighting. There'll be a point where they'll have no choice but to do that. Whether they know it or not, they will be combat ineffective. They will surrender.' He adds, 'Our capabilities are overwhelming compared to what Iran's are.'

Rubin accuses New York City Mayor Zorhan Mandami (Adams) of deliberately misrepresenting an IED attack at a protest outside Gracie Mansion. The mayor's statements implied the device was thrown by 'white supremacists' targeting him as a Muslim, when evidence suggests two Islamists yelled 'Allahu Akbar' and threw the bomb at anti-Islam protesters.

Mayor Adams' tweet and statement are read, followed by Rubin's commentary: 'He's implying that someone came outside of Gracie Mansion because he is the Muslim mayor to kill him or throw a bomb... But it turns out, well, yeah, it wasn't Jake Lang or the white supremacists. That guy was a jihadi himself.' Bill Malusian's report details the suspects as Amir Balot and Ibrahim Caillumi, both with Middle Eastern heritage.