What This Comedian Said Will Shock You

Maher examines contemporary health issues, questioning the effectiveness of personal health practices when broader systemic and environmental problems persist. He argues that individual efforts, like dietary changes, cannot compensate for collective issues such as pollution, climate change, and urbanization. He asserts that large-scale governmental action is necessary to address these challenges.

He critiques the public response to microbes and pandemics, arguing that overemphasizing sanitization and isolation overlooks the immune system’s critical role. Maher criticizes public health messaging for a lack of precision, comparing flawed strategies during COVID-19 to earlier missteps in addressing AIDS. He argues that fear-driven policies often misallocate resources and fail to protect vulnerable populations adequately.

Maher also discusses the role of obesity in worsening health outcomes. He highlights the lack of national efforts to address obesity and criticizes both political and cultural attitudes that enable unhealthy lifestyles. Maher argues that promoting body positivity without acknowledging health risks perpetuates the obesity epidemic. He calls for a combination of individual responsibility and systemic changes, such as improving access to healthy food and encouraging healthier habits, to address the nation’s health challenges.

In this chapter, Maher discusses modern relationships. He criticizes virtual worlds for isolating people and worsening social and romantic disconnects. He connects this isolation to the rise of “incels” and argues that reliance on technology erodes real-life social skills needed for relationships.

According to Maher, dating apps promote superficiality and disrupt traditional dating dynamics by reducing the effort and meaningful communication needed for romantic connections. He urges a return to in-person interactions and genuine communication, stressing the need for courage and vulnerability in relationships. Maher also addresses workplace relationships, questioning overly restrictive corporate policies prohibiting consensual relationships between colleagues. He argues that these policies, while aiming to prevent abuses of power, often inhibit natural human connections and romantic possibilities. Maher discusses how identity politics might unintentionally stifle traditional expressions of masculinity and femininity, which he believes play an essential role in attraction and relationship dynamics. He raises concerns about the growing trend of nontraditional orientations, such as relationships with robots, suggesting they show an increasing reliance on technology and a deeper societal alienation. By linking these developments, he argues that modern cultural movements and technological shifts are reshaping how people connect and form relationships.

In this chapter, Maher reflects on the pervasive influence of Donald Trump. Maher describes an incident in 2013 where Donald Trump sued him over a joke made on television. The joke was a parody of Trump’s obsession at the time with questioning President Obama’s birthplace. Maher, playing off Trump’s demand for Obama to produce his birth certificate, jokingly suggested that Trump should provide his birth certificate to prove he wasn’t the offspring of an orangutan. Rather than dismissing it as satire, Trump responded by producing his birth certificate and having his lawyers send Maher a letter demanding the $5 million. Trump later escalated the situation by filing a lawsuit, claiming Maher’s statement constituted a binding contract. According to Maher, the incident exemplifies Trump’s inability to tolerate humor directed at him and his lack of understanding about public figures’ exposure to criticism and satire.

Maher also critiques the Mueller investigation, describing it as a missed opportunity to hold Trump accountable. Maher argues that Robert Mueller’s strict adherence to legal formalities allowed Trump to escape consequences for documented misconduct, such as obstruction of justice and soliciting foreign interference in elections. Maher discusses the Stormy Daniels scandal and draws comparisons to Bill Clinton’s impeachment over his affair with Monica Lewinsky. He points out that sex scandals tend to dominate public attention, often overshadowing the more complex legal issues at play. Maher argues that Democrats have wasted energy focusing on Trump’s personal misconduct instead of addressing his more serious actions, such as inciting insurrection and obstructing justice, which he considers far more significant.

Maher discusses the dangers of escalating polarization in the United States and the growing rhetoric of a “national divorce.” He challenges the idea of splitting red and blue states, arguing that the country’s interconnectedness and geographic overlap make such a division unrealistic. He argues that democracy relies on people’s ability to coexist, especially given the overlapping political identities found throughout states and cities.

Drawing on historical examples, he highlights the risks of allowing hatred and division to spiral into violence, referencing the Balkan Wars and Northern Ireland’s “Troubles.” Maher observes that political identities in the US have become more divisive than racial or religious ones, with increasing hostility between Democrats and Republicans. He notes how people increasingly isolate themselves within ideological bubbles, refusing to engage with those who hold opposing views, which deepens misunderstandings and fuels animosity.

Maher addresses how both the Left and Right contribute to division. He explains that anti-intellectualism on the Right often stems from feeling alienated or resented by liberals, while the Left’s moral superiority tends to push away potential allies. He warns that growing hatred and Growing Polarization in American Politics can lead to instability, as even minor disagreements can escalate into hostility. Maher advocates for finding common ground and avoiding the temptation to “own” or crush the opposition. He calls for Americans to focus on shared values and find ways to coexist rather than letting politics drive division.