Bill Maher Says Progressive Left Drives Liberals Like Rogan and Musk to Conservatives

Talk show host Bill Maher argued on Monday's episode of his Club Random podcast that the progressive left is building the modern right wing by alienating former allies until they switch sides.

Maher interviewed Dr. Debra Soh, a Canadian sex researcher and neuroscientist. Soh, author of The End of Gender, has drawn criticism in liberal circles for her critiques of gender ideology and warnings about medical transitions for minors.

"The science denial is so bad in terms of even pure biology you would think would be acceptable and should not be controversial," Soh told Maher. "I don't know that we're ever going to get back from that."

Maher expressed surprise that a straight-arrow academic like Soh had become a pariah among progressives. "For them, you're just some sort of right-winger," he said.

"Because I'm saying that girls shouldn't be cutting off their breasts," Soh replied, calling her view basic common sense.

Maher turned the discussion to Democratic identity politics. He said the woke wing of the party had handed influential liberal heroes to conservatives.

"They've driven a lot of people like Joe Rogan and Elon Musk... people who are not conservative people, who were actually liberal heroes for a long time, they've driven them into the conservative side," Maher said. "Because they were so unacceptably not 'super woke' just because they wouldn't go along with the bulls---."

Maher often echoes conservative complaints about cancel culture but rejects the right-winger label. "You're not going to stop me from calling you out when you're crazy," he said. "Because there is a lot of crazy. Ask Donald Trump. It got him elected."

Soh said progressives vilify experts with traditional views, label them crazy and dismiss their work. Maher agreed, calling it a game by liberal media. He said when legacy outlets refuse to platform experts, they turn to conservative channels. The far left then cites those appearances as proof the experts were right-wing all along.

"I don't believe women have penises," Soh said, mocking how such a statement is seen as beyond the pale in mainstream media.

Soh said she receives a more open-minded welcome in right-leaning spaces. "I have to say, I'm so grateful for conservative media," she said. "They know we don't agree about everything, but they've always been very open-minded to me and very kind to me."

Soh confirmed the ideological divide affects her personal social life when Maher asked. "Oh yeah," she replied, saying political sorting among Americans goes beyond television.