Ep 16. May 17, 2019

On May 17, 2019, Real Time with Bill Maher aired its 16th episode of the 17th season. The show opened with Bill Maher's monologue, where he discussed a variety of political and social topics, ranging from the recent Alabama abortion law to the current state of the Democratic party.

Maher's first guest was the author and political commentator Andrew Sullivan. They discussed the rising trend of identity politics in America and how it is affecting the political landscape. The conversation then shifted to Sullivan's recent article, in which he argued that the Democratic party should abandon its current focus on identity politics and instead focus on the issues that affect all Americans.

Next, Maher spoke to the journalist and author Rebecca Traister about her book "Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger." They discussed the role of women's anger in politics and how it has been both a driving force for change and a target for criticism.

The roundtable discussion for this episode included journalist John Heilemann, political commentator Donna Brazile, and political strategist Rick Wilson. The discussion covered a range of topics, including the continuing investigations into President Trump's finances, the ongoing trade war with China, and the crowded field of Democratic presidential candidates.

During the panel discussion, Maher also introduced a new segment called "A Tale of Two Rallies," where he compared Trump's recent rally in Pennsylvania with a rally held by Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in Wisconsin. Maher pointed out the stark differences in tone and message between the two events.

The show concluded with Maher's New Rules segment, in which he tackled a variety of topics, including the growing trend of "cancel culture" and the importance of free speech.

Overall, the May 17, 2019 episode of Real Time with Bill Maher was a thought-provoking and entertaining look at the current state of American politics and society. With a diverse group of guests and a range of topics covered, this episode was a great example of why the show has remained popular for so many years.