Overview
- On Maher's Club Random podcast, he said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could be a fantastic presidential candidate only after some 'deprogramming.'
- Maher argued AOC will not resonate beyond the 'very far left' and cited a New York Times editorial to contend Democrats need to be more moderate to win.
- Patton Oswalt rejected that premise, saying that labeling AOC as too far left shows how the country is broken and recalling a prolonged cultural 'freakout' since the Obama era.
- Maher listed issues where he says the left 'freaked out'—including gender, race, schools, homelessness, crime, the border, and education—and claimed Democrats strayed from science on gender.
- Coverage noted context that 45% of Democrats and leaners favored a more moderate party in February Gallup polling, referenced 2025 transgender sports votes in Congress, and pointed to Maher's similar recent critiques on HBO and CNN.