Notable liberal comedian Bill Maher did not spare the criticism of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass during his kickoff HBO season opener on Friday, describing her as “Nero,” the young emperor who was said to have “fiddled” while Rome burned.
During his monologue, Maher also ripped those who were defending the Democratic mayor along with the state’s top Democrat, Gov. Gavin Newsom, after wildfires destroyed thousands of homes and gutted entire neighborhoods like the well-heeled Pacific Palisades.
“Axios ran a story on how getting the water out of the hydrants in Pacific Palisades was more complicated than it seems. I’m sure it is. I’m sure it’s very complicated. That’s why I pay 13% of my income in this state every year to people who I assumed were working on things like this,” Maher said.
“When asked why so many of the hydrants in the Palisades ran out of water, Governor Newsom said the local folks are trying to figure that out. Yeah, you got to do that before the fire. At least in the Palisades, the hydrants were still there. 300 other ones around the city are just gone, stolen. For parts, one of the three reservoirs for the Palisades was offline at the one time of year when it was most needed,” he added.
Under a chyron that read, “Welcome To The Bungle,” the HBO host then tore into Bass for being on a trip to Ghana when the fires broke out and for cutting the LA Fire Department’s budget last year, dubbing her the “Nero of American politics.”
“LA’s mayor, Karen Bass, the Nero of American politics, was fiddling in Ghana while the city burned and later placed the blame on eight months of negligible rain and winds that have not been seen in L.A. in at least 14 years. Yeah. That’s not that long a time,” Maher continued.
“Maybe look in the history books to see how our ancestors handled it back in 2011. The mayor said about cuts to the fire department’s budget. There were no reductions that were made that would have impact in this situation. The fire chief here had a slightly different take, she said,” he went on.
“We are screaming to be properly funded. And yes, the budget was cut and it did impact our ability to provide service. And by the looks of all the fire engines in the bone yard, out of service because we didn’t fix them, she’s right,” Maher said.
Regarding his “exorbitant” taxes, Maher then said California is the “place that spends money and gets nothing.”
“We have the highest marginal tax rate in America, higher than almost all other states and soon Greenland. What is included for that? Breadsticks? Because it clearly doesn’t cover fire,” Maher noted.
“That’s government’s job. Protect us from crime, violence, theft, fire. I’m not saying Alabama would have done better with fires by fighting them with prayer in school, but look me in the eye and tell me anyone could have done worse. We just got our ass kicked by fire. Something Neanderthals fought to a tie,” he said.
WATCH:
FIRE: Bill Maher attacks the woke LA politicians who made policy decisions that fueled the LA wildfires.
h/t @SteveGuest pic.twitter.com/Q271abakGe
— @amuse (@amuse) January 18, 2025
Maher went on to say that Los Angelenos should not have to pay more taxes to be better protected from fire, noting instead that city and state Democrats should “prioritize” spending on things like fire prevention.
But another notable Democrat disagrees.
Rep. Maxine Waters, whose district includes the city of Los Angeles, claimed during a NewsNation interview on Friday that she isn’t “playing politics” with the destructive wildfires sweeping through the region in calling for higher taxes on “the rich.”
In an interview with host Chris Cuomo, Waters — herself a multimillionaire — made the excuse that “services cost money” in response to the resources needed to combat the blazes.
“The first thing we’ve got to understand is, services cost money, and we should be willing to get the richest people in this country, the richest 1% that is protected, make sure they pay their fair taxes so that we can have the money to provide the services,” she said.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
