Bill Maher predicts Republican midterm defeat, says Trump "got drunk with power"
In a CNN interview with Fareed Zakaria on Sunday, comedian Bill Maher predicted a heavy Republican loss in the November midterms, saying President Trump went too far and broke promises. He also warned Democrats against reading the result as a mandate for the left.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Comedian Bill Maher predicted on Sunday that Republicans will suffer a major defeat in the November midterm elections, in an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria. Washington ExaminerR “Comedian Bill Maher predicted Republicans will suffer a major defeat in the midterm elections” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ The IndependentLC “during an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria on Sunday” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2Maher said: "Trump screwed the pooch, that's what happened. He got drunk with power." He argued that Trump had alienated voters by going too far in his second term. The IndependentLC ““Trump screwed the pooch, that’s what happened,” replied Maher” Read at The Independent ↗ Washington ExaminerR “arguing President Donald Trump has alienated voters by going too far during his second term” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Mixed · 2According to the Independent, Zakaria cited an analysis by Nate Silver suggesting a "blue wave" was likely and asked what had driven the decline in GOP support. Maher called the coming result "a classic, historical a** whooping"; the Washington Examiner quoted him as saying Republicans "are going to get their ass kicked". The IndependentLC “Zakaria cited a recent analysis by political analyst Nate Silver suggesting a “blue wave” was likely”““It’s going to be a classic, historical a** whooping.”” Read at The Independent ↗ Washington ExaminerR ““They’re going to get their ass kicked,” Maher said. “It’s going to be brutal.”” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Mixed · 2Maher said voters had expected Trump to deliver on the economy, inflation, gas prices and immigration, and that he failed to keep his word on issues including Epstein, "no wars" and the economy. The Examiner lists the war with Iran and the Epstein files among the issues he cited. The IndependentLC “he didn’t keep his word on the things that were important to us, ranging from Epstein to ‘no wars’ to ‘the economies going to be better,’ inflation, gas prices” Read at The Independent ↗ Washington ExaminerR “the economy, inflation, gas prices, immigration, the war with Iran, and the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 1Maher said: "Right now we have one message: Donald Trump went too far, and his party will pay." He acknowledged Trump keeps strong support among Republicans but said his standing with independents has deteriorated and that some Republicans are distancing themselves from him. Washington ExaminerR ““Right now we have one message: Donald Trump went too far, and his party will pay.””“Maher acknowledged that Trump retains strong support among Republicans but argued that his standing with independents has deteriorated.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Left · 1Maher also said the pattern recurs in US politics, with winners overreaching: he said Biden did so with "wokeness" and was too feeble to fight the far left. He added "We're going to be shooting people in the street", which the Independent read as apparently referring to fatal shootings of US citizens in Minnesota. The IndependentLC ““Biden did it to a degree with ‘wokeness,’ and he was too feeble to fight the far left.”“apparently referring to the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens in Minnesota” Read at The Independent ↗
Mixed · 2Maher warned Democrats against taking Republican losses as an endorsement of their party's progressive wing, saying they "will misinterpret the thumping". He said "2028 is a different story" and described the Democratic Socialists of America as a "crazy animal" that has become "the energy of the party". Washington ExaminerR ““They will misinterpret the thumping that the Republicans get as an endorsement for the insanity that a good part of the party wants to march toward,”” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ The IndependentLC “a “crazy animal” that has become “the energy of the party.”” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2Both outlets point to indicators backing a difficult Republican environment. The Examiner cites Trump's approval just over 38% in RealClear Polling, Cook Political Report shifting 15 House race ratings toward Democrats, and a New York Times/Siena poll showing Democratic Senate candidates competitive or ahead in Texas, Alaska, Ohio, Iowa and Kansas. Democrats hold 215 House seats and need three more for a majority. The Independent cites a Siena survey with Democratic gubernatorial candidates leading in four red states, and notes some Republicans say polls have been wrong before. Washington ExaminerR “Trump’s most recent approval rating was just over 38%, according to RealClear Polling.”“Democrats currently hold 215 seats and need to gain three to reach a majority.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ The IndependentLC “Some Republicans, though, have pointed out that polls have been wrong in the past.” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 1The Independent adds background: Maher has long criticised Trump, who sued him over a 2013 joke and has called him "highly overrated", while the two dined at the White House in March 2025 in a meeting brokered by Kid Rock. The IndependentLC “Trump later sued Maher over the remark.”“The pair had dinner together at the White House in March 2025, a summit brokered by their mutual friend Kid Rock.” Read at The Independent ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads with Maher's blunt prediction and quote, adding a profile of his long feud and brief truce with Trump.
- Emphasis
- Maher's colourful language, his history of attacking Trump, the Minnesota shootings reference, and the caveat that polls have been wrong.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits Cook Political Report House ratings, the RealClear approval figure and House seat numbers.
- Charged language
- “historical a** whooping”“crazy animal”
- For example
-
“Bill Maher predicted that Republican party will suffer a “historical a** whooping” in the November midterm elections due to President Donald Trump’s unpopularity.” — The Independent
“Some Republicans, though, have pointed out that polls have been wrong in the past.” — The Independent
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Reports the prediction as a Trump-critical comedian's view, then backs it with electoral data showing a bleak GOP outlook.
- Emphasis
- Maher's warning to Democrats about the progressive wing, plus Cook ratings, approval at just over 38%, and Senate polling.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out Maher's Biden/wokeness remark, the Minnesota shootings reference, and the Trump–Maher history.
- Charged language
- “screwed the pooch”“get their ass kicked”
- For example
-
“Comedian Bill Maher predicted Republicans will suffer a major defeat in the midterm elections” — Washington Examiner
“The election is looking just as bleak for the GOP in the upper chamber.” — Washington Examiner
What every side reports
- Maher made the remarks in a Sunday interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria.
- He said Trump 'screwed the pooch' and 'got drunk with power'.
- He predicted a heavy Republican defeat in the November midterms.
- He said 2028 would be a 'different story' and warned about the Democratic left.
Where accounts differ
-
Reliability of polls pointing to Republican losses
- Left
- Notes polls show Republicans in deep trouble, but that some Republicans say polls have been wrong in the past.
- Right
- Cites Maher dismissing the idea that polls could be substantially underestimating Republican support, and presents the Cook, Times/Siena and approval figures as bleak for the GOP.
Bill Maher person
Says Trump overreached and broke promises, so voters will punish Republicans; cautions Democrats not to read it as a mandate for the left.
“Donald Trump went too far and his party will pay.”” — The Independent
““2028 is a different story,” Maher said.” — Washington Examiner
Donald Trump person
No response to the interview is reported; the Independent notes he has previously called Maher 'highly overrated' and accused him of 'Trump Derangement Syndrome'.
“Trump, for his part, has frequently lashed out at Maher, calling him “highly overrated”” — The Independent
North America1 outlet
The Washington Examiner ties Maher's remarks to US electoral indicators.
“The Cook Political Report said recently that 15 House race ratings had shifted toward Democrats” — Washington Examiner
Washington Examiner
UK and Ireland1 outlet
The Independent explains Maher and his history with Trump for a wider audience.
“Maher, who has hosted a late-night show for decades, has a long history of criticizing Trump.” — The Independent
The Independent
Left1 article
-
Bill Maher predicts GOP will get a ‘historical a** whooping’ in November – all thanks to Trump
Mixed Colourful, Maher-centred piece with background on his Trump feud and a note of caution on polling.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
Bill Maher predicts Republicans will lose in 2026 because Trump ‘screwed the pooch’
Neutral Straightforward report of Maher's remarks supported by polling and forecast data on the GOP's midterm prospects.
- 5 Oct 17:43 First Washington ExaminerR Bill Maher predicts Republicans will lose in 2026 because Trump ‘screwed the pooch’
- 6 Oct 17:00 +23h 17m The IndependentLC Bill Maher predicts GOP will get a ‘historical a** whooping’ in November – all thanks to Trump
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.