Overtime with Bill Maher: Thomas Chatterton Williams, Molly Jong-Fast, Walter Kirn (HBO)

What this episode is about

The discussion centers around a panel's reactions to China hosting the world's first humanoid robot games, with participants expressing skepticism about the entertainment value of robotic sports and emphasizing the importance of human emotions and fallibility in athletic competitions. The conversation highlights a broader critique of how technology could undermine the essence of sports, with varying perspectives on the role of robots in future sporting events.

Key takeaways

• Humanoid robot games? If they can't feel defeat, can they even call it 'sports'?
• Obama's whispers in politics are the ultimate game of thumb on the scale—who's really calling the shots?
• Mandami vs. Cuomo: New York City politics—two contenders, one question: who really runs the show?
• Costco's stop on misoprostol sales raises eyebrows: who buys reproductive health at bulk discounts?
• When the mayor’s management skills are questioned, it turns into a reality show of urban survival.

Who speaks in this episode?

• Bill Maher (Host) · 5 min speaking
• Thomas Chatterton Williams (Guest) · 4 min speaking
• Molly Jong-Fast (Guest) · 4 min speaking
• Walter Kirn (Guest) · 2 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 3:00: Barack Obama, Molly Jungfast, Zuran Mandami, Walter Curran
2. 3:00 – 6:00: Zuran Mandami, mifepristone, Andrew Cuomo, Costco
3. 6:00 – 9:00: Costco, Joe Rogan

Notable quotes from "Overtime with Bill Maher: Thomas Chatterton Williams, Molly Jong-Fast, Walter Kirn (HBO)"

• Newspaper Walter Curran and she's a podcast host and author of How to Lose Your Mother, Molly Jungfast.

  about Molly Jungfast · at 0:06

• Okay. then let's go to a different one. does Obama calling New York City mayor candidate Zuran Mandami normalize his socialist politics? Yes. I well, we don't know what Obama said to him, but Obama does this a lot. he.

  about Zuran Mandami · at 2:03

• Costco is now stopping selling methristone.

  about mifepristone · at 5:29

• Absolutely gone on my point. And I think you have the point that Democrats should go everywhere is 100% right. You cannot.

  about Joe Rogan · at 8:16

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

• Zuran Mandami — Person · Referenced political candidate (NYC mayor) · 3 mentions · first at 2:06
  Central to a segment about whether Obama’s outreach normalizes Mandami’s socialist politics and how NYC governance would function under him.
• Molly Jungfast — Person · Main guest (panelist) · 1 mention · first at 0:11
  Introduced as a podcast host and author; provides commentary on NYC politics, abortion medication access, and media strategy.
• Barack Obama — Person · Referenced political figure · 2 mentions · first at 2:06
  Discussed as an influential behind-the-scenes Democratic Party actor; referenced regarding a call to NYC mayoral candidate Zuran Mandami.
  Okay. then let's go to a different one. does Obama calling New York City mayor candidate Zuran Mandami normalize his socialist politics? Yes. I well, we don't know what Obama said to him, but Obama does this a lot. he.
• Walter Curran — Person · Main guest (panelist) · 1 mention · first at 0:09
  Introduced as a staff writer at The Atlantic and an author; participates in the audience Q&A panel discussion.
  Okay, here we are in overtime with a staff writer at the Atlantic and author of Summer of Our Discon newspaper Walter Curran and she's a podcast host and author of How to Lose.
• Andrew Cuomo — Person · Referenced political figure (NYC context) · 2 mentions · first at 4:25
  Discussed as a NYC political actor criticizing Mandami; also debated regarding residency/qualification and NYC familiarity.
  Well, also Cuomo hasn't lived in New York. He just recently moved back into the city, right? But he's a New Yorker. he's living in he's living in the.
• Joe Rogan — Person · Referenced media figure (podcast host) · 2 mentions · first at 7:56
  Used as an example of modern media reach and why Democrats need to appear on large alternative platforms to break through.
• Mayor Eric Adams — Person · Referenced political figure (NYC mayor) · 1 mention · first at 5:12
  Mentioned in a residency/credibility aside (living in New Jersey) during discussion of NYC leadership and political optics.
  Yeah. Well, he was living in New Jersey, but now he never gave upsion.

Books & papers

• Summer of Our Discontent — Book · Referenced work · 1 mention · first at 0:02
  Mentioned as a work by one of the speakers, indicating their authorship and expertise.
  Okay, here we are in overtime with a staff writer at the Atlantic and author of Summer of Our Discon newspaper Walter Curran and she's a podcast host and author of How to Lose.
• How to Lose Your Mother — Book · Referenced work · 1 mention · first at 0:11
  Mentioned as a work by one of the speakers, indicating their authorship and expertise.
  Newspaper Walter Curran and she's a podcast host and author of How to Lose Your Mother, Molly Jungfast.

Companies & orgs

• Costco — Company · Business focus · 3 mentions · first at 5:29
  Mentioned in the context of stopping the sale of mifepristone, highlighting its role in the retail industry and its product decisions.
  Costco is now stopping selling methristone.

Products & tech

• mifepristone — Product · Case study · 2 mentions · first at 5:29
  Discussed as a product being discontinued by Costco, with implications for its use in medical treatments beyond abortions.

Full transcript with timestamps

0:00 Okay, here we are in overtime with a staff writer at the Atlantic and author of Summer of Our Discon newspaper Walter Curran and she's a podcast host and author of How to Lose Your Mother, Molly Jungfast. Okay, here are the questions from the people. This is The People's Choice. What does the panel think about China hosting the world's first humanoid robot games? Is this the future of sports? Yeah. I mean this why would this be interesting to watch? I saw the picture of it. It's it's robot. It's rock. I had this toy when I was a kid. Remember rockam ro what was it? The rockom rock sakum robot. Something like that. It sucked then. I think it'll suck now. But maybe maybe you maybe you have a different

0:46 Thomas is a sports fan. What do you think, man? I mean, I don't watch uh Google, Alpha, whatever play uh Stockfish in chess, and I don't want to watch robots uh compete in sports. You know, they might even surpass us. But what's what's interesting is the human fallibility, right? And the quest for excellence.

1:04 Really? Are you a sports fan? I'm a big sports fan. Oh, you are? Oh, yeah. Oh, good.

1:08 Like what sports? Um, well, I mean, in adulthood, the sport that I love that I can't play myself is tennis. So, I'm a Nadal guy.

1:15 Diehard Nadal fan. And it killed me when Jookovic passed him. Okay. No, I I mean I do like tennis. Uh I don't watch it that much, but No, I mean I watch like the finals of Wilbertson and know tennis is is awesome.

1:31 Sure. Yeah. Well, you know, sports. I don't watch ESPN much because it's like they cover too many sports. Only I only really watch the big three, you know baseball football basketball and only the pros.

1:44 But who wants to watch robots play? Because when they lose, they aren't sorry. It's a good point. I hate this incredibly stupid question.

1:55 Really? Robots. Here are things I hate. Sports robots. Okay. Uh then let's go to a different one. Um does Obama calling New York City mayor candidate Zuran Mandami normalize his socialist politics? Yes. I I well, we don't know what Obama said to him, but Obama does this a lot. You know, he kind of like puts his thumb on the scale behind the scenes. He, you know, he remember he tried to get Ruth Bader Ginsburg to quit. That didn't work that time. Um, I think he, you know, he kind of like put his thumb on the scale of Hillary getting the nomination in 2016 when Biden thought maybe it was his turn. Um, he he's a he's a he's a KG behindthe-scenes player. So apparently uh I mean what it looks like to me reading between the lines is Obama a centrist sees this you know to say the least socialist. I mean some people would say communist you know because he says capitalism is theft. That is kind of what communists say. Uh says this guy

2:59 is going to be the face of the Democratic party and every Democrat across the country is going to have to get the question Mandami did this. Mandami said this. Do you agree? and then what the Democrats going to do. So is that how you read Obama in

3:14 a little just a little color on the Mandami because I live in New York where this is all anyone talks about. uh is he is doing a ton of these meetings with real estate people with the people who really own the city, the real estate people and the you know the sort of the New Yorky business leaders and he's talking to people and he's made some you know he says that he's going to keep a lot of people on and you know again the question with these liberal mayors is do you have the infrastructure because remember the city is it's a job that's largely a management job and not an ideological job. So, will you have the managers?

3:55 He certainly doesn't see it that way, but will you have the managers to make the city work? And I think that's going to be the question.

4:02 What does mom Donnie do for a living? Uh, good question, but not a question that you couldn't ask for a lot of people running for office. I mean,

4:12 true. I mean, most of them are lawyers, though. Yeah. No, he was a city councilman, you know. He's still he's he's doing he's doing the normal thing that you go to the mayor's position from another position in city government. I mean that's what uh Cuomo is making a big stink about the fact that he has a rentree not a rentree but a rent control department. Yeah.

4:33 And stabilized rent stabiliz which is I mean I mean I like Andrew but what a issue. I mean he's going and he's saying you know well you know your parents are rich. Okay. Who want who who says yeah my parents would are going to pay my rent. He's 33 years old. that the parents have nothing to do with it. His parent could be Bill Gates.

4:51 Well, also Cuomo hasn't lived in New York. He just recently moved back into the city,

4:56 right? But he's a New Yorker. I mean, he's living in he's living in the country. I mean,

5:01 okay. But he he was the governor. They give them a mansion in Albany. I mean, I I I don't think he's unqualified to run the city of New York. I think he's rather familiar with New York. And

5:12 Eric Adams is living in New Jersey. Yeah. Well, he was living in New Jersey, but now he never gave upsion.

5:18 Yeah. Yeah, he didn't. That's weird. That's another thing. That's Wow. That's worse than the turkey.

5:25 Uh, okay. Um Oh, I read this today. Costco is now stopping selling methristone.

5:34 Methristone. Thank you. This is the birth control pill. It's actually an abortion pill.

5:39 Abortion pill. Yeah. And they said lack of demand. Uh, that's why they're not gonna sell it anymore. Now, Costco, isn't that where you buy things in bulk?

5:51 Who need? That's the first thing that struck me. It's like, who needs the abortion pill in bulk? How big of a hoe do you have to be to buy your abortion pills at Costco?

6:05 I'm making the sad feminist face. Um, but okay, so two things about methylristone. Yes.

6:12 Uh you can it is also used for a bunch of other things that aren't necessarily abortions there. I could go into it but it's too gross. Right. But there's lots of uterine things that in involve methopristone and there's a it's too it's a two drug series. The other thing is like with birth control, a lot of birth control pills, a lot of these things were covered by insurance and aren't anymore or are being phased out under the new sort of, you know, because they seem woke. Um, the thing I would say about birth control is there are a lot of people who are on birth control and they're not on it for birth control.

6:45 They're on it to, you know, all sorts of really, you know, to control their symptoms of other stuff, right, of hormones. And so I do think that these two these drugs are they're they're about methopristone, but they're also about larger issues. You know, people use them for other stuff.

7:01 Just don't take it in the bathroom at Costco. Um, really, I would want a little more That was terrible.

7:10 I would want a little more privacy if I was buying an an abortion drug than in the line at Costco. I'm sorry.

7:16 All right. Let me broaden this out a little bit. Were you surprised that the abortion issue, which many of us thought was going to be the one that put the Democrats over the top.

7:27 Yeah. Uh was not the issue that they thought it was going to be. Neither was democracy, by the way.

7:32 Yes. That turned out to be. Those were two issues that they they were counting on people to care about more than they did. What do you make of that?

7:40 I mean, I think there was a larger problem which was a structural problem which is the mainstream media in 2016 was much bigger than it was in 2024. It was so much smaller and there were just they had so much trouble breaking through about anything. You know, I mean, Joe Rogan, if you go on Joe Rogan, I think it's like, you know, 10, it's like 60, 70, 80 million people saw Trump on Joe Rogan, right? But if you give an interview to the Washington Post, it's not the same level of, you know, breaking through.

8:12 Well, then maybe Kla went on Joe. That's absolutely gone on my point. And and I think you have the point that Democrats should go everywhere is 100% right. You cannot. There is no world in which an elected can win if they don't go on Joe Rogan and the Milk Boys and you and everything else.

8:33 If you if you're afraid of the people who voted for you, you're just afraid. I mean,

8:38 well, you just can't win. You're just rid It's just ridiculous. And if you don't and if you don't go if you don't go everywhere, then you're not anywhere. And that's it.

8:48 That's right. They made it a state issue. It's no longer a federal issue. Right. But people live in states.

8:55 Well, they do, but they can fight it state by state, and that's the way they're doing it. I mean, that was that was the sea change in our politics when Trump and the Supreme Court brought abortion off the national stage and onto

9:09 Well, I'm pregnant. I've got nine months to get the legislature to change the law. I mean, that that that not how people think. Uh recent surveys found that uh 79% of Gen Z say they have dating app burnout and one in six American women are celibate by choice. What's to blame for this depressing trend? I don't think it's a depressing trend that they're getting rid of their dating apps. I think that's a fantastic trend. Not that it affects me either way, but I know it doesn't. But I mean I think anything anytime you get people off screens, it's good.

9:43 That's a healthy trend. People should be meeting in person. This is this a terrible like movement our society has made towards everything being virtual and also the way that people are able like the top uh achievers on those apps are able to kill and so you know people are unable to deal with the complexity of human relations now because if you're on the apps and everybody's on the apps as soon as as soon as there's a little bit of friction you just say I can't deal with this I'm just swiping again and you get another you know you just keep replacing the initial stage of a relationship and you never grow. Yeah, it's better just to meet people in bars when you're both really drunk.

10:17 When you're both really drunk. Yeah, I think that's better than life together. It actually is.

10:22 I got an ad on my phone just today for an AI girlfriend. I mean, you know, at least they were using dating apps to find real human beings. Uh now, now there are people, and I've seen stories about it in just the last few weeks, who are getting virtual girlfriends through AI.

10:39 But why did they ask you what did you previously like? No, it's a it's a reasonable question. What?

10:52 It's like Amazon book recommendations. They know what you want before you know.

10:57 But I would say the kids should take a hint from the summit there in Alaska. If I can wrap up the show on one vote tonight, but like Putin and Trump, they did decide that we need to look each other in the eye because, you know, it just is different. And it actually is the same with any kind of relationship. You just cannot get a feel for a human being over the phone. First of all, you don't smell their femores, right? That's literally a part of it. You don't see facial expressions. You don't All of this is stuff even if it's not conscious that you're taking into account when you meet somebody. Uh and so, you know, kids take a take from Vladimir Putin. All right. Thank you everybody. I appreciate it.

11:53 over there.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Overtime with Bill Maher: Thomas Chatterton Williams, Molly Jong-Fast, Walter Kirn (HBO)"?

Bill Maher (Host), Thomas Chatterton Williams (Guest), Molly Jong-Fast (Guest), Walter Kirn (Guest).

What is "Overtime with Bill Maher: Thomas Chatterton Williams, Molly Jong-Fast, Walter Kirn (HBO)" about?

The discussion centers around a panel's reactions to China hosting the world's first humanoid robot games, with participants expressing skepticism about the entertainment value of robotic sports and emphasizing the importance of human emotions and fallibility in athletic competitions. The conversation highlights a broader critique of how technology could undermine the essence of sports, with…

What is mentioned in this Real Time with Bill Maher episode?

11 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Zuran Mandami, Molly Jungfast, Barack Obama, mifepristone, Walter Curran, Costco. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Overtime with Bill Maher: Thomas Chatterton Williams, Molly Jong-Fast, Walter Kirn (HBO)"?

The episode runs 12 min; the transcript is about 2,219 words in 45 timestamped sections.

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